CHRISTMAS DAY TRAMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 1

CHRISTMAS DAY TRAMS

CONFUSION OF DATES APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT Every year since the establishment oi tho tramway system the City Council has discussed tho question of running the cars on Christmas Day. The “hardy annual” appeared on the order paper at last night’s meeting, and the debate was more interesting than usual owing to the passing this session of the Public Holidays Act. The Mayor said that as the Act came into ojjerution at once double pay would have to be given to the employees it they* worked on Christmas Day. 'Tire council, however, could not charge extra fares. It meant that the council would have to pay for two days this Christmas. Under the new Act holidays would always be observed on Mondays. Christmas Day this year would fall on Sunday, and it would be observed on Monday.

Councillor Fletcher said that in nearly all awards where a holiday fell on Sunday it was observed on the following day. The Mayor: An Act of Parliament overrides everything. * _ Councillor Fletcher: But the holiday will be held bn Monday. Sunday will bo an ordinary day, and will not be a holiday. ‘ The Mayor said that as far as the holiday was concerned it fell on a Monday. Councillor Fletcher; "Will it be reckoned as Monday? The Mayor; Yes. A DAY OF BEST. Councillor Fletcher said the employees should be given on. Christmas Day ter enjoy themselves at home.. He moved that the cars be not run on Sunday (Christmas Day in reality). Councillor McLaren seconded. When asked to explain the situation, Mr .Richardson, city electrical engineer said that in the past it had cost about .£llO extra to run a Sunday service on Christmas Day. If an ordinary .service was run on the Monday, supplemented with extra cars, it would cost about .£2OO extra. Councillor Hindmarsh: Is it not a fact that all the men are paid for Christmas Day whether they work or not ? Mr Richardson: Yes. Councillor Hindmarsh said the question should be referred to the public. It was all very well to please a powerful body of men, but the question was. What was best for the public? In these days people did not spend the whole ot Christmas Day in eating, as was the case in the past. They wanted to go to the seaside and elsewhere to get fresh air. It could not be helped if the tramway employees were deprived of their. Christmas dinner. It wq.s an incident of the service. They received extra pay for, the work and the public required the service. Councillors were the trustees of the people, and must do what was right in spite of it being unpopular with the employees. Councillor Shirtcliffe wished to know whether Mr Richardson anticipated a substantial loss by running the cars on Monday. ■ A GENERAL HOLIDAY. The Mayor: He does not say so. It would cost .£2OO extra to run the cars. All the religious ceremonies would be observed on Sunday, and Monday would be considered a general holiday by the people.

Councillor Shirlcliffc; It vcmkl never do to stop the ordinary Sunday service. He asked whether it was intended to run a, Sunday service on Monday. The Mayor: No. The full service. Councillor Shirtcliffo: Will wo be compelled to run the full’service The; Mayor: Christmas Day is Bunday.

Councillor Shirtcliffo: In effect it will be Monday. Councillor Duke explained that Christmas Day and Good Friday wore always to be observed on their proper dates. The Mayor, said there would be much larger traffic on the Monday than was usually the case on Christmas Day. Councillor Fitzgerald : To. which day does Councillor Fletcher’s motion apply. The Mayor: Sunday. Councillor Fitzgerald: Do I understand that Boxing Day will he observed on Tuesday. The Mayor: Yes. TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.

Councillor Fitzgerald : Then there will be two Christmas Days. The Mayor: You may have two Christmas dinners but not two Christmas Days.

Councillor Fitzgerald said that under the circumstances he would support the motion and make Sunday a close holiday. The Mayor explained that time and a half would have to be paid on Sunday and 'double time on Monday. The men would get this compensation for the extra work. It would he absolutely wrong for the council not to give tramway facilities on the Sunday. Councillor Atkinson: Won’t it be a question for the Minister of Public Works to decide? (Laughter). Councillor Fletcher, in replying, said the council might once in seven years give the tramway employees an opportunity—and he was sure ho would Pave the ecclesiastical people with him—of attending religious services on this particular day and also of spending some little time with their families. Not one out of a hundred people would go out on Sunday 1 afternoon. Councillor Fletcher’s motion was lost by five votes to eleven. It was then decided to adhere to the ordinary Sunday time-table on Christmas Day proper, and run the usual weekly service on the Monday. -