ANNIVERSARY DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27391, 17 May 1950, Page 8

ANNIVERSARY DAY

Chamber Of Commerce Discussion CLOSE HOLIDAY PROPOSED Stating that some of the businesses in Dunedin were closed on Anniversary Day while others remained open; parts of some businesses closed down for the day, while other parts were open; and that some businesses transferred the holiday to Easter, forcing others to remain open both on Anniversary Day and on the additional day at Easter, Mr' R. E. Jones urged the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday to convene a meeting of all interested organisations to endeavour to make Anniversary Day a close holiday in the city. The chamber decided to convene such a meeting at an early date. It was stated that the Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, would speak at a meeting of this nature if it were arranged. Mr Jones said that a result of the paradoxical position that existed over the observance of Anniversary Day was that some employees in the city had a holiday, but others were denied one, and some firms had to pay overtime rates to keep their premises open when, others were closed. These firms, he said, contended that Anniversary Day should be a close holiday in the city. Mr A. L. Stanton suggested that as Anniversary Day would coincide with Good Friday next year the proposed meeting should be deferred for 15 months.

Mr M. S. Arthur said that the Otago Early Settlers’ Associatibn felt that the day should be a commemorative one and should be observed on the day on.which it fell. . . : “This Is a day which we bannot give away. It belongs to others,” said Mr A. B. Jones.

Mr Arthur suggested that union secretaries should be invited to attend the proposed meeting. Mr A. S. Falconer, who was in the chair, asked what the attitude of the churches would be if the meeting decided that March 23 should be observed as Anniversary* Day, and not any other day, since Good Friday fell on the same day in 1951.

Mr Stanton said that the chamber should be careful that employees did not feel that they were to be robbed of a holiday. Some other day could be given as a holiday if Anniversary Day fell at the week-end. The chamber decided that it should be left to the executive to araffge a meeting.