There appears (says the Star) to be con« siderable diversity of opinion amongst. Auckland tradespeople regarding the choice of a day for the weekly half-holiday, which it is enacted in the new Shop Hours Act shall be given to employed in shops each Aveek. A large and important sec tion of the tradesmen in the cit}' has de clared in favor of closing up shops on I Saturday afternoon and evening, while i another section — chiefly Newton and suburban tradesmen—is in favor of the Wednesday half-holiday. Still another portion of the shop-keeping community has declared for Thursday as the best day for the observance of a half-holi day. The shop assistants themselves are virtually unanimously in favor of the Saturday half holiday, as possessing more advantages both for the employer and employed than any other day in the week. Various steps are suggested for the settle ment of the difficulty as to the day of clos* ing, but so far nothing definite has been fixed upon. Probably a general meeting of representatives of all those concerned in the half holiday question, which is one of much importance to shopkeepers as well as to assistants, would end in a satisfactory understanding as to a common half-holiday being fixed upon. We understand that should the half-holiday be fixed for Satur day, many employers of labor in all branches of trade would be willing to pay their hands on Friday instead of on Satur day as at present. Once the day for a general half-holiday is settled by those concerned, the only thing left to be done would be to apply to the City Council to proclaim that day as the day on which the half •holiday must be observed by em ployers of labor in shops. SPECIAL SETTLEMENT AS SOCIATION. A deputation, consisting of Major D. H. Lusk and Messrs Walker and Board, chairman and members of the Auckland Special Settlement Association, has waited on the Hon. W. P. Reeves. 