EARLY CLOSING.

Evening Star, Issue 3116, 13 February 1873, Page 2

EARLY CLOSING.

To the Editor.

Sir, — When an agitation was raised, some time ago in Dunedin, in reference to a Saturday half-holiday for tbe tradesmen’s-as-sistants, you very generously supported the movement by advocating its justice, and by permitting letters on the subject to appear in your paper. In this evening's Star I see a letter, signed " Liberty,” condemning the practice of late shopping pu Saturday night. Your allowing its appearance causes me tp believe that you are still ready to help employes in retail establishments to obtain reasonable hours for work. As one of these employes, I thauk you mod; sincerely, as, I am sure, do all others who are similarly s tuated. "Liberty” seems to think th it it would be of no avail to strive once motk tor ft. Saturday half-hoii-day, and contents himseu. Wltb hiding fault with people who make their purchases after nine o’clock oh Saturday evenings. Ife is right in blaming snob late purchasers, bqt I firmly believe that it would prove a far harder matter to prevent the shopping which goes on after nine o’clock, than to get the shopkeepers to close at two o’clock in the afternoon. If late shopping is allowed at all, it must continue until straggle-s about the streets get tired and prepare to go home for the night, because it is principally those who take walks and perambulate the streets on S iturday night, more than on any other night, who are the late purchasers. They leave all their purchases purposely until then, and delay them until the last moment before gong home. It is useless appealing to the sense of justice possessed by these people, if they have any ; to point out their heartless selfishness ; so long as the shops are open they will enter them, although it would not cause them the slightest inconvenience were the shops to close several hours earlier. Whenever "early closing” is mooted, there is at once a great cry raised by interested parties, "Oh, you do nob consider the working men ! How are they to make their purchases if the shops are closed at an early hour of the day?” Wed,’ ask a working man the question, and I assure you that he shall answer you as has every working man answered scores of times—- " air, to say that I cannot find time to buy what I want save on Saturday night is false. There are plenty of opportunities afforded me for making my purchases during the week. As for my wle, she can buy at almost any time of the day.” Now, if that is making an incorrect statement, let a working man contradict it—not a groc r, who can sign himself "A Working Maa.” I do not believe that there is a single working man in Dunedin who will do so. It is not the working men of Dunedin who encourage late shopping ; it is those who occupy comfortable positions, and who like to take things easy at other people’s expense. The abolition of late shopping would be a cause of sorrow to Government officials and their wives, and many more of that class j they like to enjoy a walk out in the country on their half holiday, then prom made the town in tbe eveniug, and make their purchases, enjoying the usual chit-chat with friends and acquaintances who drop into the shops. Not long since L was walking up Princes street with a friend, at half-past ten o’clock on Saturday eveniug—J had just left ipy place of business—-and op coming abreast of a large drapery establishment, observed all the shutters up with the exception of two, "Well,” said my friend, " Are they not a mean lot to keep their hands at work so late.” We looked into the shop, however, and saw standing at the counter three well-dressed ladies, one of whom I recognised as the wife of one of our leading citizens. Now, there is a rule in ’ drapery establishments that no hand leaves until all' the sh'utfers are up j here, then, were three ladies detaining some twenty men, pot out of necessity, but simply because it spited their pleasure to shop late. Of course the two shutters were kept down in order to allow the ladies egress, la this case my friend’s stricture as to the meanness of the employers was not deserved. Taey could not help themselves, unless by ordering their customers out, which no prudent or sane man would do. As already said, I befipve tfiat to obtain a half-holiday will be an easier task to preyent shop: ping after nine o’clock, if that is to be the recognised hour of closing. anhour or so longer does! not materially increase the labor of a dav which is long and wearisome anyhow. If shookeepers’ assistants are nit to be mere 'drudges, incapable of enjoyu-enfc, unable to render tPeir families and the State good service, and not altogether unsusceptible to r< ligious influences, they must have Some relaxation—some short portion of tile week to themselves* One out

of the six days of labor is not much to ask, and surely they need not be grudge i it, I would put this matter before my fellowemployes again, and ask the n to make one more effort for a Saturday half holidiy Our la it failure ought not to decide the matter, the movement is a just a i l go id one, deserving of another trial. Tie late half-holi-day committee know well what causes chiefly contributed to the unsuccess of the last effort which was made—the defection of a few small employers who professed their friendship for the movemint only to obtain aims popularity, and consequently increase of custom ; the division of counsels; the extreme coldness of thi clergy towards the movement. Knowing thjse matters, a new c immittee wilt be able to avoid the rocks. Judge Cha im an and E B. Cargill, Esq., lent us noble help, and, I have no doubt, will be ready to do so again. Vlen like these, an I even some of onr shopkeepers, beyond their colleagues in generosity and intelligence, we can depend upon; With their assistance and onr own efforts, we shall yet git what we want, if we only persevere, '• Liberty’s ’ remarks upon the clergy I perfectly coincide with. Though a strong admirer of my minister, I muss say that ho and the other clergyman of Dunedin did not fulfil their duty, nor their promises of support, towards the early closing movement. It is all very well for our ministers to talk about the wickedness of people absenting themselves from Sunday worship, but they take precious care that they do not make themselves unpopular with their principal hearers by preaching a crusade against the evil that compels many to rest, instead of attending church on Sunday. I heartily wish that I could see one of our respected ministers stuck behind the counter from nine o’clock in the morning till eleven o’c'ock at night, and should dearly love to be his master, for I would.-bet a trifle that his usually contented-looking visage would wear a different aspect next morning. Too jaded and tired would he feel to think of attending church, much less preach a sermon. To rail against clergymen is not to my liking, so t will abstain from aqy farther ren} irks upon their action in tqq matter; only let tfiem remember that while they are right in preaching about and denouncing remote evils, their is a serious present evil in our roidst—.late ah.r»ppia.g—* which will disappear all the sooner for their help.—-I am, &o.„ Persevere,

Dunedin, 6th Feb., 1873,