SUNDAY TRADING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2160, 27 January 1881, Page 3

SUNDAY TRADING.

TO THE EDITOR OR THE PRESS. fclE, —l should hardly trouble you with any remarks did I no*' think it my duty to combat a growing evil in this our city—l mean cant. ■“Councillor Lambert called attention to the

fact that the old Post-office was open on Sundays for the sale of tee and coffee (note this), &0., &o„ and that they had prevented a man named Benoit from selling tea and coffee on the Market square." Now, I would ask any reasonable body of oi’.'zans whether the old Post-office being open on Sundays, providing food only for those who probably cannot get it elsewhere, can possibly bo construed into a desecration of the Sabbath. 1 - is all very well to take up such silly trifling questions for the purpose of currying favor in the eyes of small rather than narrow-minded people, but the public ought to be very careful and guard the general interest and comforts of our population, and not stoop to such ridiculous views as are attempted to be thrust upon them. If this Mr Lambert had his way he would not have an hotel in Christchurch on Sundays, and every visitor and every resident should go into private lodgings on that day ; and I would therefore suggest that the police take charge of all hotel proprietors at 11.15 p.m. on Saturday night, the fifteen minutes being permitted to empty the tills, and keep an embargo on their persons until Monday at 6 a.m., when they might be permitted to conduct their business, until fresh sumptuary laws are invented by our very learned, wise, and august Councillors. Is it not time, in this law-abiding city, to enact laws whereby Sunday shall be a perfect day of rest. Not a dog shall wag his tail. Wc will not roast our Saturday night’o cheap shoulder of mutton; we will do that on the Saturday ; but we will make our coffee, boil our potatoes and our cabbage, if the times will afford it, and so compromise the matter. And if wo duly "unable” ourselves, I have no doubt the thing would be right; but is 'ambling ono’—that is the difficulty. But, anon ! The Post Office Restaurant is a great boon, It is admirably conducted in its food and its cleanliness, and is, without doubt, conferring an estimable benefit to hundreds of men at this juncture of depressed trade ; and I defy the whole Council corporate to find a single fault. And it is to bo sincerely hoped that the Council will find better work to do for the city generally and the city’s good than entertain such twaddling discussions as Councillor Lambert brought before them. Yours, &c., Themis.

Cathedral square, January 25th.