CORONATION HOLIDAYS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 99, 16 June 1911, Page 5

CORONATION HOLIDAYS.

BUNGLE AT DUNEDIN. {Per Press Association ) Dunedin,, June 15. Things in Dunedin in connection with the Coronation have reached a startling impasse. No firms working under awards will observe Thursday as a holiday. It lias been suggested that the Government should pioclaim Coronation Day on Friday, the Prince of Wales’ birthday. A largely attended meeting of eraSloyors, convened by the president ol no Chamber of Commerce, was held this afternoon to discuss the threatened deadlock in connection with the observance of Coronation Day and Prince of Wales’ Birthday. The following resolution was passed, and instructions given to have a copy forwarded to the Minister of Labour and the chambers of commerce: “That in the event of the Minister declining to recede from the position taken up by the Labour Department, the Mayor be requested to declare Friday a holiday in Dunedin in place of Thursday, on the occasion of the roionatnn of His Majesty King George'V., and that the Government lie requested to give such instructions in connection with all Government departments in Dunedin, as will conform to this resolution.” At a meeting this evening of various committees set up in connection with the carrying out of Coronation celebrations, the subject of the holiday deadlock was revived. A telegram which had just been received from the Hon. J. A. Millar by the Otago Employers’ Association was read to the meeting. In the course of the telegram the Minister stated that the Association must be aware that it was improper for the Labour Department to interfere with any award of a Court. Coronation Day was a day proclaimed, not by the Now Zealand Government, but by the Imperial Government, and it was being observed all over the Empire. If it was laid down as a principle that any Government department should have power to suspend the law, where was the line going to bo drawn P He regretted ' the unfortunate clash, but did not see how it could be avoided. Coronation Day was not a. recurring holiday, nor could it have been foreseen that the two days would follow one another. A motion was put before the meeting that Coronation Day be observed on Thursday, and this was seconded. Mr. A. Chisholm (president of the Otago Employers’ Association) strongly opposed the motion, and after a desultory discussion the Mayor (who presided) threw out a suggestion that if anyone was prosecuted for employing labour on Friday, let thorn pay tlm lino out of tiic common purse. The mooting agreed with the suggestion, and the Employers’ Association accented it. Tin's moans that retailors will now, it is to bo assumed; observe Thursday as Coronation Day. but there is still likely' to lie tumble through them keeping open .on Friday, where such action is opposed to the provisions of the Act or io Aibitration Court awards.