EXPENSIVE HOLIDAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12720, 15 August 1919, Page 6

EXPENSIVE HOLIDAYS.

CITY COUNCIL CALLS A HALT. [From Oua Correspondent. 1 WELLINGTON, August 14. Mainly on the ground that every declared half-holiday costs the city £3OO in extra payments to tho staff remaining at work, the Mayor of Wellington very reluctantly refused a request to declare a public holiday when H.M.S. New Zealand arrives next week. Owing to the strain on the city finances, the question of declared holidays, he says, has given him considerable concern. Formerly when a holiday was given to the staff the latter were willing to make up tho time lost, but since the council had engaged in utility services and commercial undertakings the position was different. It was quite fair that the whole staff should be treated alike, and those who could not take a holiday because of the nature of their work were entitled to extra pay. Under those circumstances, a half-holiday cost the City Council about £3OO. The finances would not stand that strain. There were other reasons why the Mayor could not agree as to the necessity of proclaiming a holiday. He said that people would have ample opportunity of inspecting the ship. He intended to make representations to have the ship thrown open while in port for inspection on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.