MR. PARADISE.]

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1.—9.

138. Mr. Laurenson.] I think you, Mr. Paradise, were asked whether any fewer books would be sold if Saturday were made a universal half-holiday ?—Yes, and I stated more were sold on the Wednesday. 139. And in answer to Mr. Kirkbride, who referred to those who supply food to the people, you did not think it would affect them, or that the people would be inconvenienced?—lt would be only for a time ; it would adjust itself. 140. I would ask you whether the employees as a class think a half-holiday on Saturday once a fortnight or a half-holiday on Wednesday every week would be the best ?—That is a matter of opinion, and I am not prepared to say what the assistants generally would prefer, but, speaking personally. I should prefer the half-holiday on Wednesday every week, but it should be made compulsory. At present we lose it if there is another holiday in the week. When another holiday comes in the week—say, Easter Monday—we lose the Wednesday half-holiday, while the factoryhands get their half-holiday on Saturday all the same. 141. The employees in Christchurch say that they would rather have the Saturday half-holiday once a fortnight than the weekly Wednesday half-holiday ?—Of course, Christchurch is in rather an exceptional position. When I was visiting there it seemed to me that the Saturday looked rather like a market-day. There are a large number of persons who drive into the town on that day, and I believe that is the reason. 142. How do you make out that Saturday is the market-day in Christchurch?—l do not know that there is a market-day at any town in this colony; but Christchurch puts me in mind more of towns I have visited in the Old Country, and I think there is more business done in the town on Saturday than there is on any other day in the week. 143. You did not know the fact that the market-day in Christchurch is Wednesday, and not Saturday ?—I did not know it. 144. You, Mr. Dawson, say that all the employees are in favour of the Saturday half-holiday ? —Yes. 145. Are all the employers against the Saturday half-holiday ?—No. 146. Can you say that half of them are for it ?—Yes; that is, half of the employers, but not half of the shopkeepers. 147. And, practically speaking, all the employees?— Yes. 148. Speaking from your position as one who is brought much into contact with the public, do you think that the general public would be antagonistic to it ?—-I have spoken to many of them, and can say that they are in sympathy with it. They consider that Wednesday is a very inconvenient day, and that Saturday would be a far better day on which to have the half-holiday. 149. Do you know on what day wages are paid by the large employers in this city?—l have made inquiries, and find that the Harbour Board, the shipping offices, and many other large employers do not pay the wages on Saturday. 150. When do they pay them ?—I do not know. 151. Is it the custom here for the large employers to pay their men on Friday?—l think so. 152. The Chairman.] With regard to these workmen who it is said would leave their money in the publichouses if they were paid on the Saturday, are these men very numerous ?—Yes; I believe 15 or 20 per cent, of them. I have seen a good many. 153. Well, I have had some little experience with workers outside shop-assistants, and I consider it is a reflection on them to say that fifteen or twenty out of every hundred would spend their money in publichouses on Saturday afternoon ?—lt is a very difficult thing to say the number, and I can only repeat that I have seen a good many of them, but as to the proportion to the total it is impossible for me to say. 154. If there were five black sheep in every hundred they would be very conspicuous ? —Yes. 155. Would you like to say that there are more than 5 per cent, of these working-men who do as you say ? —I must adhere to my statement that there are 15 or 20 per cent, of them who do it. Ido not wish to cast a reflection on any man. 156. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.) Can you say how long these people stay in the publichouses ? Or, rather, put it this way : do they simply get a glass of beer before they go home, or is it a general drunk ?—I could not say. 157. Can you say how much they spend ? Is it a drunk, or is it simply a drink on their way home?— Simply a drink in going home. 158. What would be the percentage of those who stay longer?— The time they would stay would vary. 159. What would be the percentage of those who would go straight home if you closed the publichouses ?—I think the greater number of those who visit those places at that time would go home. 160. You do not want to cast a reflection upon the people ?—No, sir, I do not want to cast any reflection. 161. The same men would probably do the same thing on Friday, or on any other day on which they were paid ?—There would be a difference, because they would have to go back to work. They have not got to work on the Saturday afternoon, and so they can stay longer on that afternoon. 162. Then, your contention is that it would benefit the wives and families if they were paid on the Friday afternoon ?—Yes. 163. You allude to those who stop on the Saturday afternoon, but who would have to go back to work on the Friday ?—Yes. 164. The next question is with regard to the plebiscite. At present the local bodies fix the half-holiday, andjyou say that is not a fair way of settling it ?—That is a matter of opinion. 165. Eemove the local bodies from doing it, and then there are two courses open : one is that Parliament should settle it, and the other is to leave it to the people to settle it. There might be