MATAURA BOROUGH

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 12

MATAURA BOROUGH

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From Our Correspondent.) Considerable local interest attached to the special meeting of the Mataura Borough Council on Tuesday evening, those present being his Worship the Mayor (Mr C. D. McConnell), Councillors John Sutherland, G. McCaw, D. A. Coster, W. Piercey, J. Ingram, A. J. Cruickshanks, J. P. McErlean, W. P. Thorn, and an apology was received from Cr. C. H. Hargest. Some twelve months ago on the recommendation of a deputation representing some of the sports bodies in the town, the council decided in favour of Saturday half-holiday, and this has proved a very vexed question, both from a business and sporting standpoint. Taking advantage of the provisions in the Act, several shopkeepers returned Wednesday as half-holiday, with the result that the matter has been more or less of a fiasco. Business houses complained bitterly of the loss of trade through the change-over, as young people from the outlying districts were refraining from visiting the town on Friday nights, while many housewives of country residents were not able to do their shopping locally as formerly. In the sports division teams were hard to muster for Wednesday matches throughout the year, with the result that enthusiasm waned in many cases. It was only to be expected, therefore, that the business houses would take the first opportunity of having Wednesday reverted to and with this object in view quite a number attended the meeting in person. In addition a petition signed by 29 retailers of the town was presented and was as follows:— To his Worship the Mayor and Councillors. We, the undersigned retailers of Mataura, hereby respectfully petition that Wednesday be re-instated as the statutory half-holiday for the Borough of Mataura for the ensuing year for the following reasons:—

(1) That owing to the proximity, of Gore and to the railway facilities provided for travellers to that centre our sales have been reduced considerably. (2) That we find it impracticable on Saturday to attend to our customers within the time allowed us by law. (3) That we have found during the past year that the majority of residents prefer Saturday as late night. (4) That Saturday half-holiday has been of no advantage to the majority of the local sports bodies. (5) That Wednesday half-holiday is observed in the surrounding districts. His Worship the Mayor briefly explained the business before the meeting and called for a motion. Cr. Piercey: I have great pleasure, your Worship, in moving “That we revert to Wednesday half-day,” and in speaking of it he said there had been’ considerable talk on the matter. It was evident, he continued, that the change-over had not been any good to sport or to business and he urged that the day be altered. The motion was seconded by Cr. A. J. Cruickshanks, who also had championed the retailers’ case last year. Cr. Ingram said it had been his intention to speak on the question, but he would content himself with moving an amendment “that Saturday be adhered to.” He, the speaker, had only the day previous received information that a petition for a poll in May on the halfday was likely to be presented so that he felt he could safely leave it in the hands of the electors to decide. The amendment was seconded by Cr. McCaw.

Cr. Piercey: I wish to know, your Worship, if the statement made by Cr. Ingram regarding the petition is to be taken as a threat. Councillors had a duty to perform, irrespective of such rumours. There being no further discussion his Worship then proceeded to put the amendment, those voting for it being Crs. Ingram, McCaw and McErlean, while those against were Crs. Piercey, Cruickshanks, Coster, Thom and Sutherland. The motion for Wednesday was then put and carried. Following the adoption of the motion, Cr. Piercey asked if the Town Clerk would ascertain from the. Minister if he would grant the concession to have the resolution take effect immediately, to which his Worship explained the proceedure. He would sign the necessary papers at once and despatch them to Wellington by first mail. Cr. Ingram: It is set in law for the council to fix the holiday in January. There is no advantage in endeavouring to expedite matters. It would.show a weakness and would get the borough nowhere.

Proceeding to general business a request for approval of a plan of a subdivision of sections owned by Mr James T. Pearson was agreed to.