SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 176, 4 November 1910, Page 6

SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY

APPROVED BY EMPLOYERS' ASI SOCIATION At a special meeting of the executive of the New Plymouth Employers' Association on Wednesday afternoon, the question of Saturday as the half-holiday was discussed. There- were present: Messrs C. E. Baker (president), Hal Goodacre, P. White, F. W. Okey, E. Snowball, A. H. Arnold, L. Jackson, T. Avery and J. Abbott. The meeting was held in order that a committee of three members should be apponted to confer with a similar committee from the legal practitioners and other business men who have already changed their half-holiday from Thursday to Saturday, and who sought such a conference on the matter. The chairman said Saturday was undoubtedly the best day for the half-holi-day, provided that it was universal, but at the present time it would be detrimental to the interests of the shopkeepers in the town to bring about tlie change. It would not be wise to change the half-holiday until all the other towns fell into line. Mr. j.. White said although Saturday was the best day for the half-holiday, it would be suicidal to make the change until there was an Act of Parliament to compel all shops to close on Saturdays.

Mr. Goodacre said the only satisfactory way of bringing about what was required was by an Act making a Saturday half-holiday general, and strictly compelling the country stores to close with the town shops. The great danger in closing on Saturdays at present would be found to be in connection with country stores with post offices attached. He strongly favored legislation for a Saturday half-holiday, considering that the people of the Dominion had been educated sufficiently concerning its advantages, and that'the time was now ripe for the change. But it would be foolish to alter the half-holiday unless it was done universally. " ' Several members pointed out that if only Xew Plymouth made Saturday the jr half-holiday trade would be driven to f Inglewood' and Stratford, as well as to . the country stores. It was also agreed B that there should be an earlier train . from the country on the half-holiday day, to allow farmers to transact their bus'i- '; ness properly. It was agreed that the ~ Saturday half-holiday would be practiT cable if an agreement covering the whole \ of the province could be obtained. T l It was then decided that the chairjlman and Messrs Goodacre and Arnold • should form the committee to confer , with, the legal practitioners and others J who already observe Saturday as the j'halE-holiday. On the motion of the chairman, the 1 meeting unanimously adopted ' !ie follow- _ ing resolution:—'This meetini. while re--1 cognising that Saturday is the best day t for tne general half-holiday, is of opin- . ion that to close on that dav at pre- '_ sent would be detrimental to 'the interJests of the town as a whole, and (rusts "j that a Rill will be passed through IV.vliaIjmcnt at an early date, makino- the Sat•j unlay hau-lioliday compulsory and uni- „ versal."