THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13888, 27 April 1907, Page 10

THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLI-DAY.

AN UNAVAILING PROTEST.

(Put United Press Association.) GORE, April 26. A meeting of Gore retailors yesterday forwarded a protest to the Minister of Lalwursagainst the proposed change in the half-holiday in workrooms attached to retail premises to Saturday, and asking that the present arrangements bo allowed to continue.

Mr Millar replied i*' I regret I cannot do as requested. Tho Factories Act providca that Saturday shall lie observed as tho holiday, and a.s I havo to administer t>ho law, and not make it, there is no option but to insist on the law being observed, leaving Parliament, who made the law, to alter it if it thinks fit."

The Labour Department has (savs (ho Southland Times) issued a. circular to local factory-owners which advises thorn that they must close- their factories, on Saturday afternoon? hereafter. The act- dealing with the matter of the factory half-holiday is quite clear on tho point that Saturday is the statutory da', hut in towns whore tho usual closing day is Wednesday tho provision has boon allowed by the department's officers (o remain in abeyance. If the act is io be rigorously enforced, if will cause a serious derangement of business. Many factoryowners run their - factories to feed retail shops, and it will be extremely inconvenient for them to have the two departments on separate da vs. Some time at;o the Employers' Association mentioned the matter at ono of its meetings, and at- the timo a desire was expressed that the state of afiairs now tolerated ou sufferance merely should bo made permissible hv statute.