The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1873.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1202, 29 November 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For'the wrong that needs resistanco, For the future in the distance, And the cood that we can do

It is pitiable to see the difficulties that are made to surround the movements of the

Early Closing Association. While efforts are being made that will, we have no doubt,

result in the ultimate establishment of the early closing principle ; while the resistance of the few remaining objectors will in all probability yield to the earnest wishes of the promoters of the movement, the greatest and most treacherous difficulty appears to come from the ranks of the association itself. That there are those within the ranks that .are only half-hearted and half-consenting soldiers in this crusade is quite possible, but we really cannot, understand how, having once joined

in such a movement, any one could exhibit treason in the very hour of final conflict. There is something so unmanly in such a course that we are loth to believe that any of our drapers arc capable of it. We can understand a man refusing point blank to join

in such a movement; we can understand him even bidding defiance to the Association, but

for any one to be in the ranks in this crusade against long hours and needless drudgery, and when difficulties interpose, to take

advantage of the struggle to desert, this is so like soldiers going over to tho enemy in the midst of an engagement that we should really bo ashamed to acknowledge him as a fellow citizen. Nothing great or good ever was effected without a struggle ; and a struggle surely was anticipated when this movement was commenced. We do not hesitate to say that the action of Messrs I'earse and Levy is only made an excuse to cover the treason if there is now any desertion from the Early Closing Association ; and not on Messrs Pearso and Levy, who have been throughout in opposition, but on tho traitors to the cause -who throw away their arms and run Avill the public odium attach if this movement collapse. We reassert that the persistence of these two objectors is only made

an excuse. At tho worst the amount of damage done to other traders by both, even if they kept their doors and windows wide open, and their gas jets flaring, would be really unappreciable and unworthy of notice ; and the amount of damage done when the Association's terms aro half complied with by half closed doors and gas put down need scarcely be mentioned. That Messrs Poarse and Levy will eventually concede the point we are perfectly confident ; in fact for tho past few nights the former has observed the terms of the Early-Closing Association, and the latter has again and again declared that he will follow whatevor course is taken by Mr Pearse. For any one then to desert the Association at this juncture will only show that lie was all the time a traitor in disguise, and thiit it is the near approach of victory that has roused him to action bo as to subvert the early-closing movement. We trust the public will fully understand this, and will lay the failui-e of the cause, if failure comes, at tho door of the real culprits. But we would entreat another short trial. We ask that any contemplating such a course will forbear for a longer. In the name of philanthropy and in the cause of mercy we plead, and we do hope that no one will desire the honor of having by one cruel stroke stricken down the hopes that have been for months so earnestly cherished by the young men and young ladies of our various business establishments. At the present moment the action of the Association is spreading in its influences. Other business places have found the effects of the early closing of the drapers ; and sales after six o'clock are fast becoming the exception instead of the rule. A little forbearance and a little perseverance and every establishment in tho city will reap tho benefits. Surely a little sacrifice might be made in the cause of so much good* Thus we plead, and thus wo hope that tho still small voice of mercy will be heard. But we do not hesitate to say that the time has come when tho aid of legislation might be evoked in this humane movement. As it is, one objoctor in business arrangements such as this can become the social tyrant, and compel all his fellow-traders and their employe's to cruel and purposeless drudgery. And it surely would not be without tho bounds of humane legislation to enact that when three-fourths of the traders in a particular class of business in a particular placo agree to a certain liuo of conduct in relation to their business a small minority should bo precluded from exercising social tyranny, and oompolling tho majority to submit. Wo apprehend that tho same hand of morcy which legislation stretches forth foij tho protection of females and children againfjt unscrupulous and selfish cmployorw might be equally stretched forth for protecting tho helpless from those who, aa in tho opposition to this early closing, study only their own selfish convenience in utter disregard of the feelings and tho wclfaro of their fellow men. |

To the Editor : Sir,—Your papev of November 25th has; just come into my hands. According to your leader of that date, regarding the Ram-mama election, you have not acted with you iisual enlightened perception, but taken an ex parfr statement, and that from the disappointed side. Yon have formed a sound judgment of Mr Crispe's " ability" and " experience" fitting him for a "usefulmember of the Provincial Council;" but the " questionable things" spoken of are very questionable indeed—in fact will be found not to exist. All present at Pukekehoe on the polling day will give me the credit of knowing as much as moat as to the details of this election, and T am bold to say Dr. Corbett, duly impressed with his responsibility, both to the candidates and the f!o----vernmcut whom he represented, acted in a perfectly fair and honorable manner as a gentleman and a scholar always will. As to the defective roll, it tells on one side as well as the other ; and if by it Mr. Harris lost eight votes, [ can certify to twelve on Mi- Crispe's side who ought to have been on the roll, and would have been recorded them for Mr Crispe. Asto Mr Orispe being present in the polling-booth, 1 saw Mr Harris there also, and he was invited to stay if he liked, when ho could have " overawed" his neighbours if his physiognomy was sufficiently powerful. But, sir, Mr Harris did not require any more powerful help than lie had in his indefatigable friend "the Major Commanding the District," who was untiring from the Jlrst to obtain the votes tor his Volunteer Captain. Then, again, it should be taken into account the great disadvantage Mr Crispo laboured under by having no poll-ing-place at Patinnahoe, involving1 to some thirty or forty of his supporters a loss of a day and a journey of seven or eight miles of rough road to vote for him, which they did cheerfully, and I am happy to say, triumphantly returned their neighbour and friend. Am\ shall ho iimilt them by resigning the proud position in which they have placed him because fot sooth the disappointed candidate is wrath. Such cowardice would display neither " fine feeling or honor," and I can answer Mr Crispo will do no such thing although his friends are ready, if needs be, to fight the battle over again, and return him too with a much larger majority, A " spirit of fairness " has impelled me to write this latter, and as it is the same that guides and gives light to the Eventnci Star, I make no apology.— T am, Your.3, JAMKS FINLAV. [Very good, Mr [''inlay. <! ranted our information was ex;w/<?, wefoavenow hoard from the other pnr/a, and it confirms our impressions. We give all credit to you for "knowing as much as most as to the details of this election," and we think there may be much of this which it might not bo convenient to say much about. You are "bold to say" that Dr Corbett " acted in a perfectly fair and honorable manner," but your illustrations are equally "bold" to show the contrary. You "saw Mr Harris" in the polling booth, you did, where we presume lie had the common right of an elector to go and record his vote. But you do not venture to say that he was so "bold " as to take his seat beside the ballot box and act as scrutineer in contravention of the act ; and your statement that ho was so invited by Dr Corbett and declined, merely shows that he was incapable of that indecency exhibited by the Returning Officer and his protege of which wo have complained. Your statement as to the round dozen votes lost to Mr Crispo, is simple assertion of the ci in quot/nr class, and we venture to say that the " dozen " is a myth. Your fears of Mr Crispe's "insulting his friends by resigning his proud position l: may bo allayed by the fact that ho will probably be relieved of the honor without such voluntary act of self-negation.—Ed. JS.S.]