AUCKLAND NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 7336, 29 October 1892, Page 1

AUCKLAND NEWS.

THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

There appears (says the Star) to be con« siderable diversity of opinion amongst. Auckland tradespeople regarding the choice of a day for the weekly half-holiday, which it is enacted in the new Shop Hours Act shall be given to employed in shops each Aveek. A large and important sec tion of the tradesmen in the cit}' has declared in favor of closing up shops on I Saturday afternoon and evening, while i another section — chiefly Newton and suburban tradesmen—is in favor of the Wednesday half-holiday. Still another portion of the shop-keeping community has declared for Thursday as the best day for the observance of a half-holi-day. The shop assistants themselves are virtually unanimously in favor of the Saturday half holiday, as possessing more advantages both for the employer and employed than any other day in the week. Various steps are suggested for the settlement of the difficulty as to the day of clos* ing, but so far nothing definite has been fixed upon. Probably a general meeting of representatives of all those concerned in the half holiday question, which is one of much importance to shopkeepers as well as to assistants, would end in a satisfactory understanding as to a common half-holiday being fixed upon. We understand that should the half-holiday be fixed for Saturday, many employers of labor in all branches of trade would be willing to pay their hands on Friday instead of on Saturday as at present. Once the day for a general half-holiday is settled by those concerned, the only thing left to be done would be to apply to the City Council to proclaim that day as the day on which the half •holiday must be observed by employers of labor in shops. SPECIAL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION. A deputation, consisting of Major D. H. Lusk and Messrs Walker and Board, chairman and members of the Auckland Special Settlement Association, has waited on the Hon. W. P. Reeves. The deputation requested the Minister to interest himself in continuing the efforts made duriug the last session of Parliament at Wellington by Major Lusk and the committee to arrange for the speedy settlement of the members of the association on a good suitable block of land, and the granting generally of easy terms to those who are ready and able to become the pioneer settlers in a portion of the country which has hitherto been locked up. They also pointed out that as soon as the Government was in a position to offer the land, the association would send competent experts to view .the block, in order to decide on the suitability of the land for small farm settlement. The Hon. Mr Reeve:) promised to give all the assistance iv his power towards carrying out the objects of the association, and said he would consult the heads of the departmenU in Wellington as soon as he returned there.