THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1375, 8 November 1884, Page 2

THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT

To the Editor. Si a, Your correspondent writing under the «om de plume “ 15 per cent redaction” need not plume himself upon having concealed his identity, as from certain phrases he makes use of it is pretty plain who the inspired writer is. it is an easy matter for one in his position to counsel his less fortunate brethren to be content with their lot, whatever that,lot may be. I venture, however, to assert that if those who are endeavoring to resist the attempt wnich is being male to lengthen their.hours of labor were in his position they would be mure than content with both his hours and remumeration, and 1 think such a letter comes with a very bad grace from one who only works eight months a year, live hours per day, five days a week, and has eight pounds pay. Talk of a reduction of 15 per cent. Sir, I think- a reduction of 30 per cent could be made from that amount, and still i f would be dear at the price. JVJLoreuver, I should have thought the gentleman referred to bad had enough of letterwriting to satisfy his craving in that direction for the natural term of his life. But now for this particular letter, which I suppose is the beginning of another series. He commences by saying he is not opposed to the shortening of any man’s hours of labor. He shows bis inconsistency, however, by refusing to sign the requisition from the Early Closing Association, praying that their hours be not lengthened, and he admits it to be quite a legitimate means to use to go from house to house and ask the housewives to do their shopping early in order to make late hours not only unprofitable but an actual loss to the shopkeepers; He then goes on to say that because certain merchants keep late hours certain others I find it necessary to do the same in selfdefence, and hence the whole hive of shopkeeping industry began to hum about early closing. 1 think, Sir, it was high lime to begin to hum when the employees were told very plainly that unless those who were keeping open late could be induced (not dictated to, as your correspondent asserts) to close at 6 p.m. during the week, the whole of those who now close at that hour would be compelled to keep open at least two hours later every day, which would mean, if carried into'effect, an additional twelve hours per week extra i labor and no extra pay to nearly 100 men and women. iNow, Sir, I think he would be a very dense man indpe.d who could nut see that; it would even be a very simple sum for an urchin in the First Standard, and consequently not a very difficult problem for my learned friend. As to the reduction in prices these late

hours shopkeepers are supposed to hare made, I sh ould hare thought that if the reductions are so startling and so real, it would be quite unnecessary to keep open so much later than the other stores to adrertise that fact. But the question of reduction in prices has nothing whatever to do with the Early Closing Association. Their sole aim is to frustrate any attempt to lengthen their hours, and they say to the public buy from whatever store you please, but do not shop after 6 p.'m. In conclusion, I beg to assure '* 15 Per Cent Reduc ion ” that the Early Closing Association are using every legitimate means to carry their point, and I fail to see where he gets his absurd notion of boycotting from, as that is no part of the Early Closing Association’s programme. I am, etc., A Mrmbbr of the A. E C. A.