DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14048, 29 April 1919, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

To-morrow, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. the burgesses of Hamilton will be called upon to make a momentous decision in so far as the business welfare of the town is concerned. They are asked by one section of the community to make what must under any circumstances be regarded as a very risky experiment, and deliberately renounce that portion of the week which long custom has proved to be the best period for business upon the bald assurance of interested parties that the volume of trade will not show any diminution. It is lightly asserted that the busmess peoplcand the town would in no wise suffer from the change—that the same volume of trade will be 4<*ne each week, but that it will be spread more evenly over the other days. That is the theory: facts go to prove the contrary, for towns (including Hamilton and Cambridge) which have made the experiment in the past have ascertained by experience that Saturday closing means diversion as well as diminution .in business. We can sympathise with the shop ass'stfmts in their desire for Saturday ofJ\ but public convenience has to be taken into consideration, and those who 'elect to serve the public must render that service when the public desires it. It is only in the large centres, where the bulk of the retail customers are resident within the city boundaries, that the Saturday holiday has proved successful. Hamilton as a town is not self-contained: it. is dependent upon the adjacent districts, and it is largely the residents of these districts who flock into the town on Saturday afternoons and evenings to do their weekly shopping. It is the one night-in the week they feel free to do so, for Sunday not being a strenuous day they are enabled to take matters a little easy, and a late night on Saturday has fewer drawbacks than any other during the week. These people bring much trade into the town, and it is more, than probable that if they were debarred from doing their shopping in Hamilton on the day that suits them they will/betake themselves and their -cash to centres which do not shut, their doors against them. Under the present regime Hamilton presents a busy and prosperous aspect every, week-end. Residents flock in to meet their friends from the country and enjoy an hour or two in each other's company. If the Saturday proposal is carried to-morrow these pleasant little gatherings will be eliminated and there will be nothing to replace them. We again urge the burgesses to carefully consider the matter in all its bearings before casting their votes. It is easy to give a town a great set-back; it is much more difficult to remedy it. In this case, fortunately, the electors have both theory and fact to guide them, and, as we have pointed out, the theory is not borne out by facts.

Wednesday OP Saturday?