THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2409, 15 January 1895, Page 2

THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

THE TRAM AND ’BUS TRAFFIC. Yesterday we gave some figures relative to the number of passengers travelling on the railway lines on Saturday afternoons. From enquiries which have been made of the proprietor of the Wellington tramway aud at the Co-operative ’Bus Company's office, we are enabled today to give a rough estimate of the number of persons who come into town from Newtown on Saturday afternoon and evening. There is little variation in the numbers who travel by tho tram cars on the first five working days of the week, but on Saturday evening an increased service is required to cope with the traffic. It is computed that over 600 persons above the number on any other day travel by the trams on Saturday. The majority of these come in for tho purpose of shopping, as the trams are crowded on the return journeys with women carrying parcels, the greater number of whom get into the cars in Manners and Cuba streets.

Tho officials of the Co-operative ’Bus Company say that they carry about 800 more passengers on Saturday than on any other day of tho week. This estimate being for the double journey, would represent 4UO persons coming into the centre of the city from Newtown. This increase of traffic is principally confined to the afternoon, as the numbers carried during Saturday mornings are not in excess of those of any other day. This estimate is based on tho traffic on a.fine day, for should the weather bs bad the numbers would not be much over those of any other day of tho week. Perhaps 300 r would be a fair average to take. It is therefore safe to say that the excess of traffic on Saturday by the tram and ’bus service is about 900 over that of any other day of the week. THE COMING CONFERENCE. The Public Works Committee decided last night to make the following recommendations to the meeting of the City Council on Thursday That the Council approve of* Wednesday as the day for the weekly half-holiday under the provisions of the Shops and Shop Assistants 18Q4; that Councillors Anderson, Devine, Fraser and Tatum be appointed to act with the Mayor as the delegates for this Council at the conference to be held on Monday, 21st inst., to decide upon the day to be appointed for the half-holiday. A petition signed by 4379 persons in favour of closing on Saturday afternoon was sept to the Cifcy Council yesterday afternoon.

Tho Mercury understands that a canvass of Marfcon, which has been made to ascertain the public opinion on the question of the statutory half-holiday, shows that a large majority of the business men are in favour of Saturday. From Our Own Correspondent. Masterton, January 14.

The Thursday half-holiday will probably be accepted here without demur. The employers have petitioned’the Council to appoint’ this the day, and the employees do hot seem to fall out with their masters.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, January 14. fhe City Council has instructed its delegates at the conference' to vote for as the most suitable day.