THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2412, 18 January 1895, Page 2

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

THE CITY cdCNCIL APPROVES OF SATURDAY. DECIDED BY THE MAYOR’S CASTING VOTE. A great deal of public interest was taken in, the meeting of the City Council last nlgHt, as it waS known that, th,e mdfch; disoiissed half-Udliday question World be Considered, aud that tho Council Would decide what day it would support, v. All the Councillors were present except Mr Myers, and the public portion of the Chamber was well filled with interested spectators. First of all a deputation of tradesmen carrying on business in Cuba street, consisting of Messrs J. Smith (Te Aro House), C. Smith, Bush (Union Clothing Company), B. Pearce (boot manufacturer), Covonoy (grocer), Farquhar (boot manufacturer), IVm, E. Woods (chemist), waited upon tho Council.

Mr J. Smith said they wished to present a petition bearing the signatures of 10,382 people who Were in favour of Wednesday. The petition Was a genuine one, and there ■were people present who could bear him out hi this statement; There Was a peti* titin presented to the Council recently iit favour of Saturday being declared the half-holiday, but, if . they examined this petition they wbiild find such names as Mr Skerrett, solicitor, the Drug Company, Bannatyno and Co., E. H. Crease, Baker Bros;, and also tho Manchester Firo Insuraneb Cbmpatil; ■ , . ~ ~ . ~ .. The Mayor rio doubt that tlio p’etitions would comprise signatures of persons in all lines of business.' ; . Mr Smith said that might lie so, but wore they under the heading of shopkeepers ? There was a considerable number of names of people on the list who were not shopkeejjers at all, and who had been in tho habit of closing their places of business on Saturdays for years. Tho petition the deputation was laying before the Council was . tho voice of tho publio along with the shopkeepers. ’ This question not only affected tho employers and tho employees, but tho publio. He looked upon the Saturday half-holiday as one of the most anti-socialistio movements of the present day. When tho shops were closed on Saturday in Dunedin the business of that city was affected to a very serious degree, and as a matter of fact business there had not yot got into its ordinary channels. It was a very serious fcattbr to disturb tho ordinary course of business. A very grave; responsibility Was thrown upott the Council in dealing With this matter, because they were hot only dealing with- the pleasures Of tho community; but with, tlio interests of many men who ’ wore Working hard to get on in their. several businesses. Theta were present several business men w ; ho would be seriously affected if Saturday was selected, while others would escape; Ho hoped that the voice of the Council would ; bo ; unmistakably in ■ favour of Wednesday. Mr Woods said it had been pointed out in one of the leading journals of the city how this exemptions under the Act would affect business. He asked Mr Fearco; who represented .the. boot trade, to toll the Council how he would be affected if' Saturday was selected. Mr Pearce said that., he could manage his business without assistance. If the Council selected Wednesday he would close willingly, bpt it they choiCoJSaturday he would not close his shop, and tliht,would affect some of tho other shopkeepers who lived on tho promises. Ho knew of several who had not sufficient accommodation to permit thSn to do so. They would have to close while ho kept open. The Mayor: You mean by that; that you have no assistants. Mr Pearoo said he had one or two, but he could do without them. His family could manage tho business. If the Council took away the rental value of To Aro the rates must come down. If they made tho day Saturday instead of Wednesday Ta Aro would not bo worth so ranch ns a whole as it was now. \ '

The' Mayor You mean ; indirectly that the Council will suffer by reduction of tho rates. 1 ■ .

Mr Woods said Mr Pearce, who lived on one side of Cuba street, could keep open, while Mr Farquhar, who lived on the opposite side, would have to close. Mr Farquhar said that he employed assistants, but, as ho had not sufficient accommodation, at his shop, he would have to close on the best day of the week, while Mr Pearce, in the same line of business on the opposite side; could keep open. The effect would be disastrous to him.. If Wednesday was selected he would gladly close—they were all Of one mind about that, in fact •they were very glad to have a half-holiday in the,middle of the week. If Saturday was chosen it would mean ruin to hundreds of shopkeepers. Ho said this without fear of being contradicted. ; .Mr Covoney said that in the neighbourhood of his shop, at the comer of Cuba and-Tngestre streets, there were four, if not five, grocers’ shops the proprietors ,of which lived on the premises, and could keep open on Saturday, while he would have to close. Ho would not be affected by closing on Wednesday, as he had closed on that day for the last two - years. He did not think any law should’ bo made to allow four' shops to keep open in his neighbourhood, because ho was a much better citizen and a'much larger ratepayer than the proprietors of those shops, and because he employed other people to assist him in his work. According to the statistics the New • Zealand .Times had given, onethird of the shops would,be able to keep open, and of that number two-thirds were grocers. The grocery business would, therefore, suffer more than any other by the adoption ! of Saturday. Mr Bush said there wore-five others in thC.same lino of business asjhimself who would bo exempt if Saturday was chosen. Half, the . receipts of the business were taken on Saturday., Mr. Woods said that Mr Innos, bookseller and stationer, could tell the Council how ho would bo affected in the selling of books and stationery. Mr Mackay, who lived on the premises, would bo able to' keep' open, while ho would, have to shut up. With regard to the canvass, the signatures for the petition in' favour of Wednesday had been taken in a legitimate way. The canvass had been, made-from street ,-to street, and the canvassers had hot been paid for getting signatures by the thousand. ' A-

In reply to the Mayor,Mr Woods said that 900 of the 10,382 signatures were obtained at the Hutt and Petono —700 at Petono and 200 at the Hutt. ■

The Mayor promised the deputation that the Council would very seriously consider the matter. , • ,

Mr Smith : You will see by the trouble and expense we have been to that wo look upon it as a serious matter. The Mayor: We are also impressed with the seriousness of tho matter. This terminated the interview.. '■

Subsequently the following recommendation of the Public. Works Committee came ■ up. for discussion" That the Council api prove of Wednesday as the day for the ; weekly half-holiday finder the provisions of > the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, 1804.” , Councillor Anderson moved as an r amendment that, tho word “Wednesday " be struck out, and the word i "Saturday” be inserted in lieu thereof. He had been requested by a tavge:number of employers to support the Saturday halfholiday. Some of them had' offered’to show by their books that they ’ .toolr' larger sums on Saturday, but ’ that could bo overcome by a re-arrangement between tho ' masters and men as regarded pay day. The employers would considervit a boon to be able to closefiip'on Saturday. They would be able to go to.hed parly, get up refreshed on the Sunday, and have a little church going.; (daughter.) Ho would like to see all the employees have their Saturday afternoon as well as other working men. It would be a precious boon to' them to knock off at jnidday on Saturday and have laxation. It was a sanitary, question, and a very serious one, as it affected the health of tho people. The merchants. Government offices, banks, insurance offices, i ailways goods station, and ’.the foundries closed at noon on Saturday, and there was everything to indicate that Saturday was the proper day for the half-holiday.' Councillor Harcourt seconded the amendment, as he believed that in appointing Saturday as the weekly half-holiday they would be doing their duty, to those who had sent them there. He did not’.think the Councillors should allow themselves to be persuaded by the petition presented, which-was said to be signed by 10,382 persons. The deputation -had admitted that 900 of the signatures wero not those of residents of the city, and.it would have been far better for them to have attended to their own business, and not interfered with business outside their district. He had beard of an old lady who had signed for her two sons, and he knew of one person who had signed petitions five times—three times for Wednesday and twice; for Saturday. The views brought before the Council were not in the interests of the public generally, but in the interests of the gentlemen who formed the deputation. Mr Smith had said tbat.if Saturday were decided upon, trade would fall off,-but he (Councillor Harcourt) did not know that Mr Smith had given any proof of that. As to what had been said about Saturday night tho people would soon get accustomed to Friday night.--Some of the councillors had called upon shopkeepers, and they had accepted what they had been told in the shops as public opinion. They could not have gone to worse people. The duty of the councillors was to do the greatest good for the greatest number, and it was simply nonsense for councillors to wait upon shopkeepers to get any idea of tho public requirements. By this means they would get the opinion of the interested section, and not the public at large., Some enthusiasts had threatened that they would not : support councillora at the next dec-

tidn if they voted for Saturday; but they iriuat romoiribor that they received more support front the crrifilbycfia than the employers. The councillors wore not there to servo the interests of individuals. It would be far bottof fclr all classes to have the holiday on one day. Most of the shopIceejiers paid monthly, so that Saturday would riot be interfered with as a pay day. Ho know of a business rnsn who paid on Friday. The City Council paid their emg"loyeea fortnightly, so that the argulent tHitb If Satilrdriy yidi adopted the spending power would be diminished would not hold water. What the business people lost by closing on Saturday they would pick up during the week. To say that a woman would buy a bonnet or a dress lossrin the year because she could not got them on Saturday was simply nonsense.

Councillor Devine said he was now, as formerly, In favour of Wednesday. He had hoard no valid argument brought forward to make him change hia opinion, and as to what had been said regarding offices being closed on 'Saturdays, that was no argument because in that case Saturday was fixed by the Act.

Councillor Harcourt: That shows the intention of the Act.

Councillor Devine said if the Government wore so anxious tlio employees should get Saturday, why did not they fix on that day and rid the Council of the responsibility V Tho Government did not do that, but throw tile question among local bodies for them to arguo over. Ho did not know a single important town in tho Colony that had fixed On Saturday. (A Councillor: Palmerston North.) That was tlio bxcoptiori, arid the general rule showed that tho representatives of ,thb people in iriunicipal cohtrhs Had seen the wisdom Of fixing Somo other day .than Siittifday; knowing that Had they fixed on that day they wotild dislocate ttaclo. They had consulted tho interests of tho majority of tho people, and chosen a day apart from Saturday. If tho Legislature had been determined honestly that the assistants should havo Saturday, they should have said so in tho Act. They did not do so, and ho should bo very sorry if the shop assistants should now feel in any way 111treatod by tho Council if they wore in favour of Wednesday. Personally, ho should ho very sorry to treat them ill, but ho considered the Act was not altogether for the benefit of tho shoji-assistants. The public generally must bo considered, arid Wednesday should bo selected instead of Saturday. From tho statistics published by an enterprising newspaper in Wellington, which had taken the trouble to collate some very important Information, he Judged that tile majority Wore in favour of Wodhosday, and that that day would, ho chosen If tho arrangement was voluntary. It tho largo hotlses dn Lambton quay itero in favour of Saturday they were at liberty to closo on that day, and should do so instead of drawing comparison? between themselves arid other portidns of the town. If Saturday was chosen tho public generally would be inconvenienced for a long time. They might be educated up to it in time, but for the present year he thought they would be doing their duty to the great majority of people if they fixed on Wednesday. Councillor Fraser expressed himself in favour of Saturday. He had considered the ihatter in nil Its hearings, and had taken tho opinion of many of hid friends, most of whom were in favour of Wednesday, but when ho, looked at the question from a broad point of view he quite differed from Councillor Devine as to the number of people who would vote for Wednesday. Ho was Inclined to think that if they took the electoral roll two-thirds of the electors would be in favour of Saturday. (Hear, hear.) It seemed to him that tradesmen were very much afraid that some of the small shopkeepers would take a share of thoir profits, but surely those who could afford to keep assistants and live in country houses should not grndge a little benefit to thoir poorer fellows. His opinion was that tho public would not deal with tho one or two shops that would keep open during tho Saturday holiday, and would got thoir goods in on tho previous day. Ho also thought there were more shop supporters in favour of Saturday than of Wednesday, and he did not think shopkeepers would suffer from the selection of Saturday in tho long run. Then, again, ho had heard it said among church-going people of all denominations that Saturday should be a day of ease, in order that men might bo able to attend church on Sunday. He was told that the people benefited by the holiday would not go to the services, but at any,rate they would have no excuse for riot . going if Saturday was selected. Another thing which occurred to him as a member of the Education Board was that if Wednesday was selected many children would in all probability take that half-day in order to go out with their parents. Supposing 2000.. children did that it would mean a loss of X7OO to the Education Board in capitation fees, which they could ill afford. Also, the Wednesday halfhollday was a great nuisance;’ to the Harbour Board j they could not get on with their business on that day) and citizens suffered loss through goods having to bo- stored. All things considered, he thought Saturday was tho proper day. He should vote for it on. commercial and moral grounds. Councillor,Tatum, was in favour of Wednesday, and said Saturday closing would be in favour of ■ Chinamen as against Europeans. People had got into tho habit of shopping on Saturday nights, and as they had had tho Wednesday holiday for so long a time the Council should express itself in favour of that day. If that day was found not to suit, then let them change it to Saturday! He should vote for Wednesday. , ~

Councillor Tanner said he was a Saturday man, but if the amendment was not carried ho should propose to strike the clause out altogether,. It was evident from the petitions presented that public opinion was pretty evenly on this question of Saturday v. “Wednesday, and the Council were in rather a peculiar position. If the Council fixed on a certain day, and its delegates were to vote for that day, what was the good of their having any conference at all, because their delegates were in a majority, and there would bo no necessity for the outside bordughs to be represented at all. They ought to let the delegates have a free hand. The City Solicitor (Mr T, V. Martin) said he was of opinion that no resolution must be passed to tie the hands of the delegates. They would have to attend the conleronco with a free hand as far as any resolution of the : Council was concerned, and hear the arguments of the. delegates froih the other local bodies, and then decide, '

Councillor Penty asked what would be the effect of delegates having been instructed at other conferences in other parts of New Zealand ? Tho City Solicitor replied that that fact might invalidate the proceedings. Councillor Willestou thought it was a great pity they had to decide this matter. However, if Wednesday was chosen it would not affect those who wanted to close on Saturday, while, those who wanted to close on Wednesday would be seriously affected if Wednesday was not the day chosen. They ought to give Wednesday a trial for a year, and in the meantime see if they could not come to some amicable arrangement. Councillor Penty asked whether, in view of the City Solicitor’s ruling, it would not he better to merely appoint their delegates, leave them a free hand, and let them use their own judgments The discussion then closed, and a division was then taken, on the proposed amendment to in serf Saturday instead of Wednesday. The voting was as. follows: —For. tho amendment— The Mayor, .Councillors Anderson, . Tanner, Harris, Harcourt, Fraser. WiUeston, Devine, Penty, Tatum; Barber, Petjierick. The Mayor, before giving his casting vote, said'ha wpuld like to get out of it, but ha supposed it was the usual thing to do. He approached that duty with a great sense of responsibility, and ho did not think any one mAa should have to take upon his shoulders the duty of deciding a question of this sort. It had been his idea for very many year? that Saturday ought to he a day on "which: citizens generally might enjoy themselves and have that rest which should fit theln for the duties of thq, following Sabbath. He thought the matter might bo better relegated to the conference without ;any direction from the Council. He thought in the first instance those who framed the Act should have completed the Apt; He thought local bodies were put in a very, peculiar position, and while those who framed the Act gave it as their opinion that local bodies were beat able to ascertain the public mind on a question of this sort,what had happened tho last few weeks proved the contrary. The city was about as equally divided as it could be, and those who " framed the Act were the persons who should have determined on what day the holiday should bo held. However, consistently with his own opinion, with the statements ho made ’when ho thought this matter was not to be cast upon the local bodies to' determine, consistently with the statements he made prior to his entering upon the .election for tho Mayoralty, he must. give his casting vote in favour of Saturday. ' (Applause.) He should prove himself most inconsistent and unworthy of the position he occupied if ho did otherwise, although he attached no small degree of importance to tho arguments of those gentlemen who had waited on tho Council with those very extensive petitions. ' Ho was persuaded that for some little time, there might be a little dislocation, the "machinery might network smoothly., - Saturday'shopping was a timohonoured institution.; He thought it was a very bad institution and he had thought, so for very many years. :■ He believed in a fail 1 proportion of time being set apart for recreation, and the best time for that recreation was Saturday afternoon. (Applause.) Ho believed that would soon bo generally admitted jmd that Saturday afternoon would

bo regarded as the most suitable thd holiday. He would give his casting vote In that direction, but he felt somewhat easy on the sooth that the question would riofc he finally determined by tho Council, and that the conference would go fairly into the question more or less upon tho evidence, and decide fairly and equitably to both parties. The amendment in favour of Saturday was therefore carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. The next ihatter for consideration was the following recommendation of the Public Works Coffirillttce 1 " 'l'kai Councillors Anderson, Devine, Fraser and TatUrfi be appointed to act with the Mayor as the delegates from this Council at the conference to bo hold at 3 p.m. on Monday, tho 21st instant, to decide upon tho day to bo appointed for tho weekly half-holiday." Councillor Harris moved as an amendment that Councillor Harcourt’s name be substituted for that of Councillor Devine. Tho amendment was seconded by Councillor Anderson, a'hd Carried on tho casting vote of tho Mayor.

Councillor Tatum moved that Councillor Willcston bo appointed in place of Councillor' Harcourt, but tho amendment was ruled out of order.

Councillor Ponty thereupon moved that his own name ho substituted for that of Councillor Fraser, which was seconded by Councillor Devine.

Councillor Barhor strongly deprecated such action, and left tho Council Chamber, Saying It Was unpleasant for the Mayor to again have to give his casting vote. The amendment was carried by six votes to five, as follows: —For the amendment: Councillors Willcston, Devine, Ponty, Fraser; Tatum and Pethorick. Against I The Mayor; Councillors Anderson, Tanner, Harris, Harcoutt.

The final voting for tho clause as amended, '/ii. i That tho Mayor, Councillors Aridorso'n, HafcoUrt; Ponty and Tatum bo appointed, was as follows: —Pol' I Tho Mayor, Councillors Petherick, Penty, Dovino, Tatum and Willeston. Against: Councillors Barber, Fraser, Harcourt, Harris, Tanner and Anderson.

Tho clause was carried on tho casting .vote of tlio Mayor.

By Telegraph.—Frees Association, Auckland, January 17.

Tho City Council has by 9 votes to 8 declined to elect delegates for tho holiday conference. The Mayor has telegraphed tho state of affairs to the Minister of Labour.

Napier, January 17. The Borough Council last night fixed Wednesday for tho half •holiday. Christchurch, January 17.

At a meeting of tho representatives of tho City Council and tho Linwood, Lyttelton, Sumner and St. Albans Borough Councils td-night, Thursday waa selected for the half-holiday; Att amendment in favour of. Saturday met with bu£ little support.