THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144665, 27 April 1915, Page 5

THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

TO THE EDIXOIt. Sir.—So far as my observation goes tho moral aspect of this question has been almost lost sight of, while the. business side has assumed the dimensions of a iiugo bogy, making fearful the credulous farmer and the nervous shopkeeper, who are represt» fed as thinking that the day of adaptation has passed. History is repeating itself. Years ago, before legislation was enacted, tho shopkeepers of .Wellington kept I their premises open to late hours, six I nights in the week, been use to close earlior meant ruin to themselves, and the poor working man (not farmer), who was employed all day, would have no time to make his purchases. An I Early Closing Association was formed. , Many of the larger shops closed volun--1 tardy. Olliers who kept open after six o’clock wore picketed, and neither the shopkeeper nor his after six customers got a too happy time. Eventually I compulsory closing came—and no one over saw a man ill-elothod and hungry because lie had not t ime to buy clot lice and food before six o'clock. Now for the moral aspect; We are told that the “homo is the matrix of the nation” ; it is more, for out of it issues the destiny of nations;. therefore everything pertaining to home life— things likely to contribute to unity—should be religiously safeguardHere we have a family of parents and six children; one works in a factory. another in a warehouse, and have Saturday half-holiday. Two arc employed in shops, and have their Thursday off. Two aro at school and have Saturday off. The head of the house is a shop hand, and would like to cot an afternoon outing with his family. He may take a third of them and his wife, but they must hurry back as the children will be coming out of school and the Saturday afternooners will want their dinner prepared. He comes home, lights his pipe, and goes for a solitary . Saturday comes. Four of the family have holidays, but the good wife cannot get out'with them, for she must make provision for the Thursday afternooners, who will expect dinner. This mutilated holiday business is no good for the home. Then again, late shopping, and especially late shopkeeping, is inimical to morality. The man who closes his week’s work with a strenuous day of from twelve to sixteen hours is neither mentally nor physically fit to enter upon Sunday in a befitting manner to the best interests of his household. Government offices, merchants, banks, factories, etc., close on Saturday. Whv not shops?—l am. etc.. . 'W.S.C.