THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13393, 17 September 1907, Page 6

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

*«. EMPLOYERS' . RECOMMENDATION. Ter Press Association. NEW" PLYMOUTH. >'.'|it..'iub-'r 16. This morning tw.n'.y mtmb.-rs of >h.New Plymouth Ktiiplnytui" A.-sociation waited upon Mr H. Okey. M.H.11-. in Hi.Horough Chamber.-, in respect t>> the half . holiday trouble that is at pr.-stt.t i a wing y<» much agitation. Mr M'tfcoim (M.H.iC. for Clntha) was ahv> pn-.vnt. lb was urged that it was in the intvr6S>ts of the people who cairn- from ;Jir> country on Saturdays to have both the shops and factories o;nn. and that unless the population exemption was increased to 7500 nr more, it would militate against an oxto-asinn of the borough boundaries for which there was a growing feeling in Suvr Zealand. Som-e members t.vpre>.t--ed the belief thai the only alternative would b« a universal Sjartrrday half holiday, but the Association deelimd to give an expression on this matter. The following motion was uuanimouslv carried: "That this nte-rting of employers recommend." tft;:r all towns out ride the four centres urge upon the M;ni.»te-i----for r.rjiorr:- the necessity of making thclause in s-nb-seetion 2 of the i!iil optional for both factoik.. ami shop-; and faetori'.-s combin-d." TIIK MINISTER'S INTENTIONS. ivrr.-r.r,\Fti:rf.r,. S. pNmb r 16. A public ai..-.'ting this afleraym ton-

sidered the telegram from the Minister of Labour stating in regard to the half-holi-day that no more option could be than that at present existing whereby the people may declare any holiday for chops. He had no intention of taking away the Saturday holiday from those who have enjoyed it for years, but he wa-s prepared to consider the que.'-iion where a. shop and factory were under one roof, but no further. The meeting resolved to thank the Minister, and advise hint that if the right of factories connected with shops to close be made to include Invercargill the shopkeepers .will be satisfied, but\ urge in the interests of the town the" general application of the option. «