CERTAIN SHOP HOURS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 April 1901, Page 4

CERTAIN SHOP HOURS.

(To the Editor.)

Sia,—ln your walks abroad of a night you must have noticed how late those engaged in the stationery bookselling and fancy goods trade kept open their shops and most likely have put to yourself the question, Why is this thus? Further vou would have been justified in asking yourself what cm trades-men find to do at such un >odly hours as nine thirty and ten o'clock night after night ? And on reasoning the matter out conclude their action was meant as a parody on the old proverb of "Tho early bird catcheth the worm. They want to catch the worm but in a more sordid sanso than that contained in the proverb. I say so feelingly, for I happen to be one of the unfortunates engaged in the trade. I say unfortunates as I would like to spend a little time with my family but am debarred that privilege since I must do as others in tho trade do. It is not Sir, as the business to do could not be done in tho reasonable hours enjoyed by grocers, drapers, and ironmongers, masters and men, for to six or seven o'clock would be time enough, without incomoding tho public, to do a'! there is to do. The anicndaient to the Shops and Shop Assistants' Act dropped last session of Parliament, proposed to give a majority of all the traders of n town or a majority of those engaged in a particular trade power to compel all to shut, a', the hour of the mijorifi/. It will be brought on again, and will I hope become law, for 1 hold that no man should b;i allowed to s'.ive-duvo him,elf or by his actions oblige others to slave drive thomsolv»s. 1 .;■.) no' this:!; any section of tho pubic wants anything of that sort and perhaps : a little publicity will help forward

an attempt to shorten the hours to a rcspfcMile and hcar.iblo limit. A democr.itii! public casinos dcira to foster a set of Scotch, English or Irish Jews, nor does it need that their shops be kept open so late. As I do not wish a cheap advertiso nent, allow me to sign myself, while asking for room for this letter. — Advance,