CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12927, 22 November 1912, Page 3

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

'To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, — With your kind permission I should like to throw out a suggestion for the consideration of those employers in Gisborne," who believe in "treating" their employees at Christmas tinie. December 25 and 26 fall on Wednesday and Thurs- i day respectively this year, whilst Jan- j uary 1, 1913, is a Wednesday. Of the i intervening days Sunday is an idle day,. ! as well as (to most) Saturday afternoon.- \ There are, then, Z_ days on which work 1 may be resumed (I am not referring to j Thursday 'half-holiday people of course). J| My suggestion is: "That where practic- ' able workmen should be allowed the •! option of having these 3£ days off in conjunction with the statutory holi-. days." These latter falling in mid-week have prompted me in bringing the matter up. There are numbers of men in tne district who have parents and , other relations in different parts of the Dominion, and with the ferry steamer running they will be given an opportunity to have a few days with them without losing much time from their work. I am particularly interested on behalf of those men whose duty it is to serve the Borough Council and Harbor Board and Public Works Department. The majority of these men are in receipt of pay at so much per hour work- , ed, and if the 3^ extra days were al-„ ; ; lowed them the" direct loss* would be ; , their own, and not the Department's. It would be an act of considerable grace :. on their part should employers do what' £ I suggest, and it is actions of this kind > which bind employer and employee l stronger than any Arbitration Court ' agreement, as well as inducing men to ;. take pains with and interest in their I work. Honing this will not be thp last | heard of this matter and that some pen * abler than mjne will *take the matter S, up.— l am, etc., ' • Ijj

"XMAS CHEER."