THE HALF-HOLIDAY POLL

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14050, 1 May 1919, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY POLL

BIG MAJORITY FOR SATURDAY. The half-holiday question was one in which considerable interest had been aroused, even to a more marked degree than the voting for the return of candidates to the Council table As the voting from the various polling places was shown on the. board in front of the Times building, it was followed by intense interest by the large crowd of people who had assembled. W b.en the final figures, giving a majority of 368 in favour of Saturday closing were received. there was loud cheering and counter cheering. H.W. H.E. Fkt. Wh. Cld. Saturday 345 169 292 103 123 Wednesday 376 135 157 124 72 Totals. Saturday .. . • 1232 Wednesday .. . • 864 Majority for Saturday 368 IVlost Serious Check in Years. Interviewed by our representative this morning, .Mr J. Varney, representing many of the business men, considered that the carrying of the Saturday half holiday was the most serious check the town had received, especially at the present vital stage of its growth. Several business people were up against a big increase in rents as soon as peace was signed, leases having fallen during the war period. This would have to be met. The people voting had evidently not considered what the full result of their vote would be. They seemed to have forgotten that in Hamilton people were not depending altogether on each other but on the outside districts; and this trade would now be largely lost. There was at present a considerable amount of trade from Horotiu —so much so that he had considered calling a meeting of business people to subsidise a ’bus service from Ngaruawahia lo catch the freezing works trade, which Would DOW probably he lost;, as Saturday was practically the only day on which they could shop. The Matangi trade,, too, which was heavy, would now. probably go to Cambridge. Onethird of the business done in Hamilton was done on Saturday, and extra assistants were kept for that purpose, and it was likely that the services of these employees would in many cases have to be dispensed with. Where formerly the town had two good days a week—-Thursday and Saturday—it would, under the new regime, be knocked into a one-day (Thursday) town, with two bad days (Wednesday and Saturday), for it was likely that Wednesday would remain a quiet day. What built up Hamilton was the business from settlers in the surround--ing country, as was evidenced by the scores of motor cars which lined Victoria street from end to end on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. Much of this trade would be lost after June 1. The present was a critical time in the history of Hamilton, and it was a great pity that the town had received such a check. With the defeat of the housing scheme and the carrying of the Saturday half holiday, said Mr Varney, Hamilton had received a setback from which it would not recover for years; The position in regard to housing was acute; people in large numbers were prevented from settling in the town owing to the impossibility of obtaining a house. Many of the shops were forced to employ a single man when they would rather take on a married man, and it would be recognised that by this means a good deal of business was lost to the town, for the man with a wife and family would naturally spend more than the young fellow without encumbrance. He was satisfied that most of the property-owners in the main street would not mind paying an extra rale to provide the money for borough houses, and he hoped the new Council would, push the matter and bring forward a proposal which/ would be acceptable to the ratepayers. Mr Varney said he largely blamed the business people for what had happened, both in regard to housing and the half holiday. Their apathy and lack of organisation were mainly responsible for the present position. Had they placed the facts fully before the electors ho was satisfied that both polls would have resulted very differently. A Step Forward. A somewhat different view was expressed by Mr Geo. Parr, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and a leading business man. He said he had always been in favour of the Saturday half holiday, and had fought for it for years, because he realised it meant progress. One of the leading drapers in Auckland had recently stated that when first mooted he had fought hard against Saturday closing, but now lie was one of its strongest supporters, owing to the success of the new departure; business was more evenly distributed, and the staff got through the work better. Business was spread over the week, instead of being concentrated on Saturday, and there had been an even greater volume of trade. This merchant said he would never dream of going back to the Wednesday half holiday. Other travellers said the same. Men who had fought the reform the bitterest were now its greatest supporters, and Mr Parr anticipated that the dismal forebodings which were now being expressed in some quarters would not be realised. He thought that, given better conditions, the employees would work more pleasantly and with increased vigour, lie had never met a man at present enjoying tiie Saturday half holiday who would vote for the Wednesday; they realised its advantages too much. If the bigger cities found il satisfactory, as was evidently the case from the replies received from the Mayors of Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin, the same result should be experienced here when the new conditions got into proper working order. Summed up, the Saturday half holiday would mean the same or a greater volume of business, more efficient service, and more pleasant conditions for employees as well as employers.

There was another important aspect of the question, said Mr Parr. By appointing Saturday the half holiday all sport would receive an impetus, and as a result of the concentration of sporting fixtures a large crowd of people would lie attracted to the Ijwii. These visitors would probably spend in the shops in the morning, and attend the sports in the afternoon. They could combine business with pleasure. Rigger gates would he recorded, games would receive greater support, and there would he more competition: thus the pleasure of life (which must be considered as well as the mercantile s>de) would he increased. In conclusion, Mr Parr reiterated •that he did not think business would suffer: in fact, he considered il wood increase. The result of the poll yeslerday was a step forward for Hamilton.

EKETAHUNfI SELECTS WEDNESDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) EKETAHUNA, Thursday. The poll yesterday carried Wednus-