THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 22 November 1911, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

AGITATION FOR A UNIVERSAL HAY. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSION. ; ( ..Vi •? i d The question of a, universal halfholiday. /throughout Taranaki was discussed at jhie.i meeting, qf/the committee of the Chamber of .Commerce last night. The; Clerk of i ( tho Opimake; Town Board wrote Saturday'; iv/pujcl not be suitable-as the’naif-holiday.

The Inglewood Town Clerk wrote that his Council had’passed a resolution in favour of a universal halfholiday, and that the Tradesmen’s Association had been asked for its opinion regarding Saturday. The Waitara Town clerk said the business people of the town were agreeable that the half-holiday be observed on Saturday provided it was observed as far-south as Eltham. The Secretary said that ho had seen the chairman .of'dhe NowßPJyniouth Chamber of Commerce, who had advised that a conference delegates be held at Stratford to consider the question. - in. The Chairman said that would lie the only proper way to go about it. Otherwise they were beating the air. He asked if the opinion of Stratford people had been consulted. The secretary said ne had brought the matter under the notice of the Tradesmen’s Association, but had so far received no reply. Mr. McMillan favoured the idea of a conference. The matter of what day should lie the half-holiday would have to be argued later on. Mr. Hewitt said that if the banks and big business houses closed the rest of 1 the town would have to fall into line.

The Secretary said the best idea was not to stick for one particular day. A universal half-holiday was desirable, and tiie getting of. the universal half-holiday might be imperilled by stipulating Saturday. Mr. Young said that at any meeting of delegates the delegates should lie prepared to vote at the meeting. Hr. Richards moved that Mayors of boroughs and Chairmen of Town Boards in Taranaki, or delegate's, be asked to meet in conference in Stratford at 3 p.rn. on December 15th, to consider the question of a universal half-holiday, the days for discussion to be confined to Wednesday,- Thursday. and Saturday. The Chairman said that probably the best way to ensure a good attendance of delegates would be to candidly say that Stratford favoured Saturday. Mr. IViuuro thought it would bo better to suggest one day, and if that failed, to fall back on a selection of days.

The Chairman moved as an amendment that the delegates he coiled together to discuss the question of holding a universal half-holiday on the day favoured by Stratford. He said that ho thought ■ the matter could only be properly settled by Act of Parliament.

Mr. McMillan said lie did not believe in asking the Tradesmen’s Association for an opinion on the matter. If the Tradesmen’s Association called a meeting a very small attendance would decide the .matter. He thought all tradesmen should be approached personal ly. The Chairman said the tradesmen would have to abide by the Association’s decision.

It was finally decided to carry Mr. Richards’s motion with the addition of a clause stating what day Stratford favoured, Stratford’s choice to be left to the Chairman and Secertary to ascertain.