A full discussion ensued, and it was pointed out that, taking into consideration the fact that Tuesday followed on an interval of four days holiday (including Easter Sunday), the holding of another half-holiday on Tuesday would be surrounded with great inconveniences, both to employers and employees.
It was therefore, decided that, under the peculiar circumstances, members would be reluctantly compelled to carry on their businesses.
Subsequently, Mr F. W. Mitchell (president of the Employers' Association) got into communication with the mayor, and decided to issue the following circular to the retail section: -
"The Mayor, in asking citizens to observe Tuesday afternoon as a holiday, is only carrying out instructions from the Prime Minister, who has gazetted the day, from 1 o'clock, as a public holiday. Our members are all in full sympathy with the object, but there are so many difficulties in some of the trades in the way of giving effect to the wishes of the Government that the decision not to observe the holiday was reluctantly come to. It is, therefore, suggested that the case will be met if you will close your place of business from 2.30 to 4p.m. (the interval in which the procession and other functions will take place), by this means observing the spirit of the occasion without putting yourself to too much inconvenience. The Mayor has expressed himself satisfied with this suggestion, and it is hoped you can see your way to give effect to same.''
• A correspondent has written to us suggesting that a demonstration in favour of compulsory war service should be held on the Caledonian Ground on Anzac Day, that all who are in favour of compulsion should be invited to attend, their number (exclusive of those ineligible to vote by reason of their youth or sex) being registered by the turnstiles at the gate, and that a resolution supporting the application of compulsion should be passed by a meeting within the grounds.
Our correspondent further suggests that this meeting should be addressed by the best of the local speakers, who should be allotted five minutes each to deal with different aspects of the war, and that bands should play, and the meeting join in singing the National Anthem and such songs as "Home, Sweet Home'' and Mr Bracken's "God of Nations''.
• Applications for allotments on the Hilderthorpe settlement (about 10 miles from Oamaru) closed yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
The settlement had been subdivided into 22 allotments, 20 of which are small areas, suitable for workmen.
The remaining two allotments are ordinary farms.
The areas of the small allotments range from 9 acres to 24 acres, and the half-yearly rentals from £4 1s to £10 0s 3d.
The farms contain 209 acres and 233 acres respectively, and the half-yearly rentals are £43 17s 6d and £40 19s.
Several allotments did not attract any applications. The ballot will take place on Wednesday afternoon at Oamaru.
• A question whether ladies should play golf on Sundays was discussed at a special meeting of the Wetiora Golf Club (New Plymouth), and it was decided by a majority of three votes that ladies should be allowed to play on Sunday mornings. - ODT, 18.4.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
