UNIVERSAL HALF-DAY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 190, 20 August 1935, Page 3

UNIVERSAL HALF-DAY

HASTINGS OPPOSITION TO A MANAWATU OVERTURE A request for support of a movement to bring abouti a poll on the question of a national half-holiday was contained in a letter read before last evening’s meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and written by the Manawatu Employers’ Association. Mr Hedley Harvey, who lead the criticism of the proposal, said it was only right that each community should have, as at present, the right to decide its own half-holiday, and it was an absurdity on the part of any outside organisation to attempt to interfere. Hastings had made a very clear decision when a poll on the half-holi-day question was taken last May. Saturday did not suit the shopping public of the Hastings district, and if retailers closed on Saturdays the public would buy their goods from itinerant traders, whose activities Chambers of Commerce were attempting curtail.

On the motion of Mr Harvey, seconded by Mr G. H. Roach, it was decided to send to the writers of the letter an answer saying that the Chamber could not support the proposal.