THE UNIVERSAL HALF HOLIDAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 13, 28 December 1911, Page 3

THE UNIVERSAL HALF HOLIDAY.

(To tho Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir, —In the letter by “Member Retailers’ Association” published in your issue of 23rd instant, tho following occurs: “From tho outset it was apparent that the Chamber was really working to get Saturday the half-holi-day notwithstanding that this was denied” and “tho Chamber did wrong in trying to foist Saturday on Taranaki.” These statements are of course mere bald assertions and no evidence is offered in support of their truthfulness. I venture to assert most emphatically that they are not in accordance with fact, as a perusal of your reports and the newspaper correspondence herein will I believe uphold me. The object of my Chamber is the amicable establishment of a universal half-holiday for Taranaki, and until its last meeting held last week it had not by word or deed shown favour towards any particular day. The preference for Saturday declared by New Plymouth, Waitara, Patea, Manaia, Kaponga, and the Stratford list, cannot be ignored, and it indicates that the establishment of a universal half-holiday is more likely on that day than any other. Tho arguments for and against a Saturday half-holiday I will leave for the candour of your readers to suggest. Your correspondent also says, “The list taken around by the Chamber . . . was not a representative list of the true feeling of the town concerning tho holiday.” A list which would be representative of the true feeling of tho “town” would necessarily require the signature of every elector, its compilation would involve as much work as a general election and what a ponderous volume it would be! The list held by the Chamber is, however, truly representative of a majority of the shopkeepers who would be bound by the half-holiday.—l am, etc., J. B. RICHARDS, Hon Sec. Stratford Chamber of Commerce. Stratford, December 28th, 1911.