CARNIVAL WEEK

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 7

CARNIVAL WEEK

MEETING OP EMPLOYERS. ' SUPPORT PROPOSAL TO CLOSE. There worn ever twenty persona pre--sent .it a meeting of employers which was hehl in the Town Hall last evening, the president of the Southland Employers’ Association (Mr S. Craig) presiding. The chairman, in explaining the purpose of the meeting, said that, in view of the small attendance, they could merely make a recommendation. The most important matter in connection with the subject was us to whether they should close on an extra half day in the week or on two extra half days. Whatever they decided to do would he for only one year, and they would then he able to see how they would get on. He called up Mr John Oilkison. president of the Invercargill branch of the .Southland j League, to explain matters. Mr Oilkison said that the League had recognised that owing to the war trade would languish. Retailers and manufacturers, in consequence, had been complaining. One man had recently asked the speaker for a job. and stated that whereas formerly ho had employed -0 hands he was now employing only four. Therefore, with a view of stimulating trade they had thought of adding to the Winter Show an industrial exhibition, making a particular display of goods that were manufactured locally. The results to date had been that more space had been applied for than was available, but they hoped that the A. and P. Association would remedy that. More business was done on the morning of the Summer Show than on any other day in the year; speaking generally, it was the retailers’ best day of the year, and if they could only induce a large number of people to attend the Winter Show, the success recorded on the Summer Show people's day might be repeated. They wanted to inculcate, too. a spirit of patriotism in the people of Southland, and endeavour to persuade them to purchase goods of local manufacture. They were a co-operative community. and if they could persuade the farmers to act as he had indicated, it would be a good thing for the town. He referred to how increasingly important the Wallacotown stock sale was becoming. Formerly at it only SO fat bullocks used to be. yarded, but now there was more than double that number. That showed the increasing importance of the market, and if tho increase continued it would ho a good tiling all round. This movement lias not been instigated by (ho sporting bodies, but if there were not special attractions, they would simply get the same old crowd to turn up as in former years. The Winter Show was being held a month earlier this year, and they were getting the whole of the Agricultural Department's exhibit. It must bo fairly common knowledge that tticrc was an exodus from Southland during the Dunedin Winter Show week. Ho did not know why the people should . go to Dunedin, but they did. and they spent largely. He had been told that ■Winter Show week was worth from £BO,OOO to £90,000 to Dunedin; it was the richest week that Dunedin firms had. The people of Invercargill, who catered for the Southland farmers, should get the first call, and they should use their endeavours in that direction. The Rugby Union had intimated that before they could do anything they would have to receive the assurance that there would be an extra half-holiday, when they would run a sub-union contest,' which would be a big thing. Ho hoped that the Hockey Association would art similarly. They had hoped that the Trotting Club would have fallen into line: but the date for their fixture had been previously decided on. Next year, however, if they were successful in obtaining a totalisator permit they would probably hold their meeting during the Winter Show' week. The. whole thing rested on whether they could liberate those who would take part in the festivities. otherwise the whole thing would fall flat to the ground. The retailers had already practically unanimously agreed to close on two extra half days. If they could provide special attractions, and could get double the number of customers for the half day they would he Just as well off as if they kept open all day. Personally, lie would be glad to see a lot of people In the town, as the town would benefit greatly by their presence. Tt was no good, however, for nineteen firms to close and the twentieth to remain open. That was not cricket. Mr Jas. Johnston moved that the resolution passed at the meeting previously held be confirmed, it, being to the effect that those present agree to close from 1 p.m. on May 19. -d and ‘JI. provided that the Southland League obtains the assurance of all retailers, merchants and business people of the town that they will do so. Mr Chas. Campbell road a list of firms that had promised to close. The reason that more signatures had not been obtained was because they were waiting for the result of the meeting that night. In reply to Mr Wm. .Smith, the chairman said’ that the question of closing was a matter that had to be left to cadi individual employer to decide. Mr .7. Crosby Smith seconded the motion, and said that he would have liked to have heard from the shopkeepers who had not been present at the i previous meeting. If the motion were i carried it would lie additional eontirmaI tion and weight to the proposal. At the (previous meeting he hud opposed the I motion, as he had thought, that shopI keepers would he willing to give only an I extra half day. because they could not expect Invercargill to have the same I crowd attending flic stmw as Dunedin land Christchurch, simply because of Inj vercargills' geographical position. They could not expect as many people here as at Hie Dunedin Show, as it was natural that people would visit the huger town, as all larger towns possessed more attractions. Then (here were thi' hard limes at present, and he bad thought that equal success could be attained by attaching purely an industrial I display to the Winter Show. At previous I shows there had been hardly ani l ‘rr; I possessing special attractions, but a 1 dustrial exhibition would offer a sp. ■ ! inducement to visitors. Then there was I the fact that some employees would lose I' direr half days, which would mean a loss of at least las. If they had a big procession, and plenty of brass band music; lie had thought it would lie suffi cieut. tint tlit- motion bad been carried al the previous meeting by a large majority, and those who had voted against it then fell in with the virus of tin- majority. He bad done so himself, land lie thought Coal perhaps this year It i would he a good thing to give the two extra half days. It had. however, never been found necessary to do so in Dunedin. although it was done in Christchurch. The thought that in future years there would be no need to do so iiere. as they would be able to show people what could he done in Invercargill. If I hey were going to have sports fixtures, as many people as possible should lie given the opportunity of a(i lending them, and as many people as I possible should he induced to come to I Invercargill on the two extra halfholidays. All the shopkeepers should be I got to close, and there should not he any half measures about it. They might i suffer a loss, but lie did not think they I would. Even if the business places were | rushed on the half days, the staffs would lie quite equal to ttie extra demands | made on their services. He Imped that i the motion would be carried, and the j proposal successfully put through. Mr. J. H. Kiugsland thought that they I could hardly ask factory operatives to stand aside for two extra half days, and they should lie allowed liberty to work if they wished to. Many, of course, would not work. So far as shop work was concerned, lie was prepared to fall in with the idea. He did not think that they would suffer a. loss, but thought I bey would gain. Owing lo the present crisis, there was a great demand for their goods, and groat, difficulty was being experienced in obtaining material. Overtime, of course, could be worked, but that would he expensive. The Horticultural SocVlv met on Friday night, and. if it was possible to obtain space, limy would probably hold a show, as it was the right time for doing so. He supported the motion, and would not place any thing in the way ol bis firms factory operatives being allowed off. Mr Wm Smith agreed with .Mr Kiugsland, and said that in factories' where tiie operatives were paid by results two extra half-holidays would ho severe. To ask employers to pay their employees for the two extra half days, would be asking for 100 big a contribution. 'Many employees really could not afford to lose the time. He .agreed with what Mr Oilkison had stated, and said that they should ail do their best to forward the scheme. Mr tv. Spito said Hint, people would be saying that they were well off. when they could close during three half days In the we<Bk.

A Voice: So we are well off. (Laughter.) , Mr Spite said that It was a bad time owing to the war, and they did not want too many festivals as many of our young fellows bad gone and were going away. He presumed that It would have to bo quite clearly understood that all the business places would close. That had never- been done previously. They should get all tho business people to sign a paper expressing their willingness to close, and place the matter before another meeting. Mr Campbell said that giving effect to tiie motion was conditional on tho whole of the business people closing. They intended splitting the town into blocks, and to have each block canvassed. A list of names of those in favour of tiie proposal would be published, and also a list of those who declined to close. People would then know who were going to close and who were not. Mr Kilby said that in ills business they were on a different footing to the retailers,'' They hail to pay their men a weekly wage, hi id they would receive four half holidays during tiie carnival week. Mr Colin Bcwis said that at first he had been pessimistic regarding tiie proposal, but after having heard Air Gilkison lie was quite in favour of it. He was convinced that it would be a very good thing for Southland. They should give it a trial, and they would know what to do next year. The motion was carried unanimous.y. The chairman said that lie was very pleased that the motion had been carled, as it was a step in tiie right direction. They should give it a trial, and if it were not successful they could revert to the old order of tilings. They should make a good display in the shops, as, for its size, Invercargill bad some of tiie finest shops in the dominion, and they should make them as attractive as possible. On the motion of Mr .1. H. Kingsland. a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Gilklson for his lucid explanation of (he scheme, and Air Gilkison briefly acknowledged the compliment.