EARLY CLOSING.

Evening Star, Issue 3535, 22 June 1874, Page 2

EARLY CLOSING.

_ T t}ie Editor. on}.,—-I waa much pleased to notice in vqup Jf" e ° f Th V»day last a local to the effect i ? deputation from the Early Closing Association had waited upon the retail enf- . ployers for the purpose qf testing their fedmg towards closing at an earljep hoqr on Saturdays than they at present do, and that the universal response was in favor of the movement, i Dunedin is often quoted as being three. °f “or® years behind more highly civilised communities in the shape of hate and cut of coats, but it certainly appears to ! be greatly in advance of many older cities in enlightenment and healthy moral judgment, i J fc . 18 ’ a very rare thing to find men doing business with their living houses or homes attached to their shops, who, because of the comfort and well-being of others, would give their cordial support to a movement such as this ; but it stands out in clear relief to the credit of nearly every one of these m the City that because of these considerations they have done so. But there is a reverse side to this fair pifltuFe, ufffdrtiinately. Elsewhere these shops, kept by a household or U its owner, only have been leit to make their own arrangements as to what hour they would open or close. But our large shop-keepers here are either not so secure or possess a more sensitive nervous temperament than those in similar positions elsewhere, as they cannot understand why they should close their establishments when such as these are open. Now, it appears to the writer that a very good reason could be given why they should do so, and with your permission, Mr Editor, 1 would as briefly as possible sketch two pictures: Eirst, a man going out and in among his family, smoking his pipe, reading the paper, enjoying his chat, drinking his tea, or toastng his toes before the fire at his sweet will, enjoying life heartily as it passes day by day; or, if he be umnarrjed, he lounges about when not on immediate duty, sils' on "tHd counter kicking his heels, or standing complacently before his shop-door chatting to ms neighbors, or looking listlessly into the sky and saying nothing to nobody, if it so please bun. second, a man hurrying onwards so as to be up in time: if he be late it is marked against him, if he is early he but does his iuty; he takes up his allotted position, a promenade of sft or 6ft, which he is expected m nnn 1 * a^ e i but on ? r 8 ent business ;he has 10,000 articles to take charge of: all are in good order and condition but one, that wants a mark or has somehow got out of order—for this he is liable to receive a reprimand; some very important cablegrams may have come in, telling of the downfall of dynasties °f • nr® m wool the rules of business, if stnctly adhered to, compel him to be silent whether he will or not. Look upon this picture and on that—tfiV one lyiflg peacefuler basking in tne sunshine of fife: the other, al it were, running in a race, has no time to look to earth, or sea, or sky: industry is his watchword as he speeds on his way. Poor fellow ! I will not attempt to draw conclusions from the foregoing, but will leave it open to every candid reader to say whether or not there is sufficient reason for thoroughly organised business houses shortening their hours, independent of those others.—l am Dunedin, Juno 22.