ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 609, 15 April 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIK KVBNING MAIL. Sir.—Some time-ago, prior to the election of a certain Councillor for Severn ward; The 6ry was that by returning this particular gentleman he would help to rid us of a glaring nuisance. Many voted for him on that account. However the blot on the community remains in its place ; How is this when the oft'ensive nature of this nuisance to the majority of the citizens is so well known to the Councillor*. I am, &c, 'Justice. TO THE EDITOR OF TUB EVKNINO MAIT,. Sir, —A great deal of excitement haa occurred during the past week concerning an early closing movement proposed to bo started shortly. In roferenco to it, 1 should like to write a few linos. I have noticed for some time past that matters have been getting worse and worse on & Saturday night, and I think it is high time some steps were taken to put a check on the tradespeople in keeping open to such late hours. As a free trader, I believe every man has legally a right to do what he likes in this respect, but morally, I think, sir, he is doing a groat injustice to those whom he employs, and also to the country at largo; for these hard-worked shop assistants are, by the unnecessarily long hours of business on a Saturday, deprived of the proper liborty and enjoyment to which, as rational creatures, they have a right, whilst working men, bank clerks, and almost every other kind of business have the Saturday half-holiday, and only in two many cases take their wives and children out for an airing in the afternoon, and leave their shopping till the last thing at night. Our countiy is injured, sir, because the health of those who are thus employed is seriously impaired in consequence of having to work many hours at night in shops where, in many cuses, tho atmosphere is quite vitiated in consequence of tho many jets of gas that are kept burning in order to show to greater advantage those cheap,, fiinißy, showy articles of dress so common in this nineteenth century, with which perhaps the shop is literally crammed. I have a paper before me, sir, written by an eminent medical man—vi«., Dr. Richardson—in which it is computed that in London alone, 1000 lives are sacrificed annually to overwork, and that 3000 or 4000 more shop assistants receive injury from it which frequently fatally. Thank God, things are not lifor/ to come to such a pass in a country liko this ; but .1 think, sir, it. is tho botiudun duty of everyone to do what ho can to nip this evil while it is yet in tho bud. Hoping the public will heartily co-operate with those who are starting this movement —I am, Ac., llumanitas.