Page 2 Advertisements Column 1

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16710, 21 April 1925, Page 2

'' \ i . WILL YOU VOTE FOR 1 V • Which Day ? What Day ? Nine Days’ Consideration On the Half-holiday Question. > - Please Read! The demand for a ’half-holiday for shop assistants and factory workers originated over 30 years ago, when, employees worked milch longer hours and received less wages than they 'now do. It was argued that a rest was necessary in the middle of the week for the benefit of their health. Conditions Mve greatly changed since then. Almost every year has brought a shortening of the hours of. labour Or other conditions under whith nil employees labor. ’ Gradually the intention Of the Act (i.e.), securing this half* holiday in-the middle oftheweek for health purposes, was thrust aside. Under the many provis-. ions of the Factories and Shops; and Offices Acts, the health and comfort- of all employees were safeguarded; and it became in time a matter of deciding the most suitable day to conform to that part of the Acts ensuring the half day off. In factories and in many branches nf industry it was found that the end Of the week vfas most convenient. The movement towards Saturday halfday for shop. employees as distinct from other employees, was much slower, even in the cities, but the desires of employees were further acceded to when an addition to 1, the Act was passed allowing a Poll to be taken upon request of a signatory petition. ; It is considered' by many th&t the provisions under which this Poll is taken are unjust in that it gives employees '(who outnumber employers considerably), an unfair balance of votßSSat such a Poll. It is further unjust because it bnly gives a portion of the community, i.e., the townspeople, an opportunity of adding their votes, but debars the country people, who are entitled to express their -opinidn on" the day upon, which the shops they patronise should be closed. Perhaps future legislation will separate shops from other businesses, or remove these voting: anomalies. However, some empldyees of Gisborne shops have secured a po}l by presenting the requisite petition therefor, which petition includes the names of 'many other than shop employees, who now have Saturday. THE POLL will be on WEDNESDAY, 29 th APRIL, and employees, employers, and townspeople will cast' their votes for such day of the week as each individual prefers, or considering it upon aVider basis, will vote for the day most suitable to the whole community. . .Voters will have the opportunity of voting for one of the six working days, but the issue 7 will be confined to Thursday and iturday. Some few may votte r Wednesday, but such an £ throivs.a vote jiway. ■ Thursday!