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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 2 June 1919, Page 2

Most people had an idea that, once the war was over, things, in this Dominion at any rate, would quickly return to normal and plans which had been deferred owing to the war would be taken up again. Experience has shown that this visvv was a totally mistaken one 'and that we are still suffering severely from the backwash of the war; the cost of living is still high and conditions generally are somewhat unsettled. Consideration of the facts show that it was only ignorant optimists who could expect that the mere cessation of hostilities after more than four years of war would produce a speedy return prewar conditions. This Dominion sent 100,000 men across the sen, more than one-third of the adult males in the country, and a considerable number more were in camp for a timo or were engaged in home service. This means that for nearly five years the country has been starved of labour in every department of work and great arrears have accumulated. The lack of shipping, which still exists, and the necessary devotion of the workers in Britain to occupations connected with the war has produced a great scarcity of many requisites in this country and kept their prices high. It is therefore evident that people must still exercise a good deal of patience before production can run as smoothly as formerly. A good deal of the abuse of the Government is due to the failure of many people to realise the true state of affairs. Groat development schemes cannot bo pushed ahead with vigour as yet, because neither men nor material are available. No legislation can alter this fact, and those who are anxious to seize the reins of government could have done little more than hag been done.

It is nearly four years since the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce succeeded in carrying a remit at the Conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce in favour of legislation being passed to provide for a universal half-holiday. On that occasion the remit was supported by the Napier Chamber and adopted without dissent, and at the next following conference it was re-affirmed, but without result. Now the question is being taken up in other places, and the time is opportune for pressing it upon the notice of Parliament. The principle of a weekly half-holiday is universally recognised and almost as universally practised, but the day of observance is decided by each city, borough, and county independently, the result being that in some places Wednesday, in others Thursday, and in others again Saturday is observed. This leads to confusion and inconvenience everywhere, and there seems to be no other way of overcoming this except by Parliament making Saturday the compulsory half-holi-day or providing for a Dominion poll to decide the day. The latter coin's© was suggested by the Napier Chamber of Commerce four years ago, but it seems unnecessary to go to that length. The whole Dominion would readily, we believe, fall into the observance of Saturday if it were understood that It was to be universal. North Taranaki would probably have adopted Saturday two or three years ago, when polls were taken in New Plymouth, Waitara,, and Inglewood simultaneously, if it had not been for a fear in each town that the others would vote in favour of Thursday. As it was, Waitara alone carried Saturday, and was glad to take advantage of an informality to avoid the charge. In the absence of general legislation it is still open for adjoining towns to agree to adopt Saturday, but the fear referred -to aboye will always operate. Perhaps if .the active support of the ,city Chambers of Commerce were enlisted to bring the matter to the notice of the Government it might receive attention during the coming session of Parliament, but it is scarcely to be expected that representations by a few small bodies will have any effect upon the Government.