605913-1940-Supplementary-Draft-Bill---Holidays-Amendment — Page 2

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Objects and Reasons.

1. Hitherto Empire Day has been a statutory holiday to be observed by educational establishments, public offices and Government departments. It is not however a bank holiday and, as business houses usually follow the lead of banks, it is in effect a holiday for public servants and not for the public generally.

2. The object of the amendments proposed in clauses 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Bill is to preserve Empire Day as a holiday for Government schools, military schools and regis- tered schools; but to restore it, unless it falls on a Sunday, as a working day for other educational establishments, public offices and Government departments.

3. The amendment proposed in clause 3 of the Bill is the abolition of the General holiday on the first Monday in September and the substitution therefor of a General holiday on the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival day, or if that day should be a Sunday then the following day.

4. This arrangement will suit the local Banks and business houses as the Festival is observed by Banks and business houses in Shanghai whilst the first Monday in September is not. It is a lunar festival, which during the next ten years will fall on various dates between the 10th September and the 6th October.

November, 1940.

C. G. ALABASTER,

Attorney General.