SATURDAY HOLIDAY AND RAIL WAY WORKERS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 71, 26 April 1929, Page 9

SATURDAY HOLIDAY AND RAIL WAY WORKERS.

J. FAIRCLOUGH.

To the Editor. Sir, — Our inutual friends, the AYednesdayites, are filling their paper witli xnaterial about the railway workshops, bemoaning the loss of same, and the apparent subscquent Joss of business. Curiously, and mucJi to mv surprise, 1 have failed to notice any appreciable decrease in my firm's turnover, yet we bad a very excellent connection 111 tools. etc., witli these men. But jet us table faets. They are complaining bitterlv now of soinething happening whieli they were too apathetic to try and stop. Two venus ago I received private adviee froni Wellington that the workshops were to be closed down. In bringing this before the notic-e of the retailers. I was told that my infonnation was rot, the Govennnent wouhl never do sueli a thing. even if the oomniission suggested it. For nearly twelye months I trierl to get interest, until finally, our late momher, the Chamber of Commerce, and Alr AAardell Johnson heeame interested. Wo endeavoured to do all we c-ouid hut without success. Finally. the men received notice of their trnnsfers, and the retailers then woko up, hut alas, tno late ! I notice tliat praetically all of these retailers are supporting the AYednesday movement. and would try and make you helieve that tho holiday ouestion has somethin.g to do witli it. No change in tlie lialf holiday will bring hack lost trade. T.nanimity in boosting our town. working for more attractive shops arnl hetter lighting are the only changcs that will do tliat.-— T am. etc..

Napier, April 26, 1929. (Published hy Arrangemcnt.)