I am a former business owner, having operated an eatery on Darby Street for many years, and can report that there was no increase in patronage on public holidays that would ever support the increase in wages paid to staff. We, in Australia, have more holidays than almost any country in the world. I once applied for a stall at the Newcastle Show but was told that it was rare that local businesses participated, as it was almost a closed shop with participants from all over Australia and not locals. I suggest that councillor Declan Clausen ('More than pluto pups', Letters 30/9) should do his homework, but then I don't believe he has ever owned a small business, so maybe he is not seeing the other side of the argument?