New Britain herald., 1925-08-14
CLERKS PETITION
 FOR HALF HOLIDAY
Want stores Closed We'd nesday Afternoons
 All Year Round

Considerable discussion was cre- ated at the meeting of the mercan- tile board of directors of the cham | Der of commerce this morning when q petition was received from the clerks in the various downtown stores requesting that the present "Wednesday half-holiday now In vogue during the summer months be extended throughout the entire year. The petition was signed by some l0V clerks and was presented 10 the mercantile body by Ralph Gould, secretary of the chamber of commerce. 10 whom 1t was address, ed
 Members of the mercantile board present at the meeting were divided Tn opinion as to the disposal of the petition. Some were of the opinion that the clerks had no real griev- ance, especially since a clerk Is al ways hired with the understanding first as to what his or her working hours are. Others, on the contrary, declared that the petition must be recognized and handled through the proper channels.
 George H. Dyson, chairman of the board, after considerable discussion pro and con, decided that the peti- tion should be turned over 10 the uniform hour committee of the board, and that this board should '~E:- I,e T report and recommnnfa- lions 10 the directors al d special meeting to he called as soon as the committee has met and taken up thn matter. After this meeting. 1t is the intention of Mir. Dyson to call a }oint meeting Of clerks and mer- chants to give a hearing 10 both 1 sides and formally deal with the petition.
 Tho uniform hour committce is composed of Eugene Porter chair man, Steve Robb and Alexander Ltventhal This committee will meet the first of the week and con- sider the petition.
 At the close of the meeting. sey- aral members of the mercantile board commented Informally on the natter of the proposed Wednes- day half-holiday the year round. One said that he knew that this or some similar petition was about due ever since the Saturday night clos ing proposal was defeated short time ago. Another said, and several agreed with him, that it would be impossible to ever grant q Wednes- | day half-holiday throughout the wear; that it Is rather more likely that this half holiday will even cease 10 be during the summertime,
 We must read the handwriting on the wall" one said. We can nc longer close Wednesday afternoons at all. but the time is coming. and soon, when every store in New Brit ain and elsewhere, too, will close every Saturday at noon during the summer months" And this seemed 10 be something which all regarded as coming certainty. The petition of the clerks, as re- ceived by Mir. Gould and read at the meeting follows:
 | New Britain Chamber Of Com
 merce,
 "Hallinan Building,
 Main Street.
 ]
 ! New Britain, Conn.
 1 My Dear Secretary:
 We, the undersigned, clerks in ! the principal stores in the City ol New Britain, respectfully request you to present the petition herein con. tained 10 the members of your hon. orable body, at the next regular meeting, and further request that il be given such consideration as i. possible.
 Tt is presented to you. as secre. tary Of the Chamber of Commerce for through you, we feel, inc opinion of the leading merchants Of oul g~--.s-.n .. r.. rs-...-. A