Correspondence

Feilding Star, 21 November 1891, Page 2

Correspondence

* WEDNESDAY HALF HOLIDAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAB. Siu, — What has become of our agitators lately. They seem to have gone entirely to sleep. Discussion on the matter was pretty lively at one time, and they seemed as if they were likely to get their grievance rectified. I say grievance advisedly, because why should shop assistants be expected to put in 56 hours, or more, a week, when other working men only put in 48 hours for the same wages. I say, why ? And I don't think it would seriously harm the employers pockets to give their employes their half holiday, that is, of course, if they all closed their shops, but I am sorry to say I perceiye a lot of petty jealousy for fear perhaps more than one would keep open and the others close. Eyen when the Mayor proclaims a special half holiday for anything there is always a lot of niggling over the affair as if they were giving half their fortunes by closing their places of business for half a day. Or perhaps the employers would not mind paying their men for the extra day's work a week which they perform, and then, of course, they could dispense with the half holiday a week. As an onlooker I should say all it needed was a little combination on the employes part and then I think the matter could be satisfactorily arranged to suit all parties. The question should not be allowed to drop altogether, and I hope to see someone else take the matter up. I am, &c. Customer.