THE KING’S BIRTHDAY.

Southland Times, Issue 16746, 27 May 1911, Page 2

THE KING’S BIRTHDAY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —His Worship the Mayor deserves credit for the public utterances lie has made on this subject, by having the Ocourage to express the opinion that ns His Majesty King George V had desired that his birthday should be celebrated on June 3 throughout the Empire, Invercargill should observe that day. This cannot be said of the one small section of the Empire, i.e., a .minority of retailers In Invercargill alone, who want to fix the holiday for the Monday, because, no doubt, they labour under the delusion that a few shillings worth of business might come their way on His Majesty’s Birthday. The position, sir, Is burlesquing the holiday, and as such deserves strong condemnation. We frequently hear at Navy League meetings, etc., about our “Empire Day,” “Hearts of Oak,” "Sons of the Sea,’’ and our retailers are always anxious to sell Coronation novelties and penny Union Jacks. But, enough, surely the position Is so preposterous that the people of Invercargill will be at least patriotic for the one day of the year.—l am, etc., PATRIOT. (To the Editor.) Sir, —If the employers adhere to June sth as the holiday they Hire doing their employees an injustice, Inasmuch as others as well as myself had made arrangements to go to Dunedin to see our parents, taking advantage of the cheap fares. There are not any cheap fares on Monday, and I for one, will be unable to go home. Hoping someone situated similarly to myself will express his regret in cold type we may yet touch the hearts of the employers of labour in the fifth city of New Zealand, and have His Majesty’s Birthday on the proper date. —I am, etc., DUNEDIN NATIVE. May 25th.