THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 707, 22 June 1878, Page 2

THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

PrBLFC MEETING. The public meeting li-M last cvenimr in the Volunteer Mall, under the auspice* of the Early Closing Association, was very well attended, notwithstanding tin.' severe coh:; < 1 tin' mY.ht. His 'Worship the Mayor (President ot the Association) occupied th« chair, aud on the j.I-it-forui were iho following fentieuieii : Revs. Messrs. G'fiord, Todd, and Dew - nnrv ; Messrs. ff-'sion, M. IT. R.. Sunr.itn, Oibbs, Fereiis. .Ronltft-Jii (Vice-President), and Parker (sSecrsmry). Amongst those present were suvi-nd hvUes. The Chairman said that, a few weeks rtgfi), lie had been asked, in his capacitv jis Mayor, m> accept- tim position of Pr -s:-d-.ut of iho BarJy Closing Association, and had comHkd '.y>w) the request because he thought the mo", am.ast s one which should have the countenance and support of any gentleman occupying t!:e position which he held. Early closing would afford opportunities to tho«e. engaged in shops for nitn'al culture and physical improvement. He did not believe that it would be the means of simply affording time for dissipation, and it would be for the young men to sh»w that such was not th® case, i/y aeeori their support to the Mechanics' Institute and Public Library and other institutions. The support given by the public to the movement was not conliued to tliose present, for he would read letters from a number of gentlemen whose opinions were deserving consideration. He th; u read letters from the ilev. Dr. J-'i"nrt. the Hon. P. Stout, the Hon. ;i. J. .Miller, and Mr. John Reid, of Ehlerslie, apologising for the ; r inability to attend th« meeting, and expressing t-iieir hearty approval of th'.. movement. Before reading the f blowing letters from Messrs. Herbert, Haynea, and Co., and H-.-ssrs. Brown, ID wing, and Co., he sa;ri 'Ji&i t:-eir consents vront a long v> ar +••. . r v.:' the fe:.-ihi;ity ■ T 'lie movement, and tle.c one f -tr v-"ei : ..o;th a bushel of argum-. c : <• Dunedin, June 5, 187 S. M.\ Geo 1- !.--.- Parker. Sir, —Yt'e are in receipt of your favor of the 27tii alt,, asking for information re the

Saturday Karly Closing Movement in Dnnedin. As you are probably aware, ivu- xperienoe of the effects of the six o'cl 'ok movement is limited to only a tew weeks but so far a-- it has gone we have every reas'i.-: lo be a:iii-[!<■■ I with it. The Saturday afternoons, which u-ed to be our dulie-t time, are u.-.w amongst the test after-

neons in the week, especially iu the clothing depsit.ii nt, and we b-.dievu that wherever a short: -dug of the hours is fairly tried it will carry with it its own success. We arc, tea, Herbert, Haynes, & Co.

Dimedin, June S, IS7S. Mr George Parker. ,-->>. — We are ia receipt of your letter of May 27 intimating that an Snarly ('losing As-oeiation was being fo-med in Oamnru, and solieiring our views a:nl ■ rpericn.e on the fpictiou. Wo are. of course, una do to say what may or nuy not he the d..sbable mode, tot- you to pro -e-il, or if even it is practicable in your t-ow.-i. We ci»» only info: in you that we were at all times favorable to tin.' movement, from the fact that we f. it a-'-ure.d that if the body of the as'dstai'ts laid their wishes fully and ide'-Vy before the public they would secure, s! lf . boon. We ailia same time are unV'-Ic to see it would be detrimental to tin; inter-sts of the employers, piovidiug the. [e.idie confer, ted i;<simp e-ir.ly. It m;-y, h-wovee, have :-:o-:i-. weight oof.li with yom- supporters Mid de' r.-te-tor:;, when we .state our i!i>: rienee -e :e liiovment is that our c;e-h ■;;:■.•:.-" e''oe.s for the ten ey.i.i': days wo have eier-n at (j iusteail of 9 p m. have hue:; p.i ■: xeess of the co. re.-pendini; .--aturrhiys ..-[ L.st ye.ur. J i you think the public ol'Oamaru are favorable to fcue change your course is not a -iUHeuLi, one; but peimit us to remind yon that ;'io Punedin AHSoeie-tiou owe- the ready ys- nl. of both public and emnl vers to the fe.ci of its candid appeals, ami ufcier absence of any approach to coercion. We wish your movement much supers. We feel as grtiM'i'ul as the employes for the boon of (5 p.m. on Saturdays;.

Wifch parmiwon to make use of this lotto: 1 if desirable, We are, <%e., Bitov.'x, Ewrs'o, & Co, The R«v. Mr. Todd, on rising to propose the iirst resolution, said that it afforded lum ?reat pleasure to come forward in support of a movement for shortening the hours of labor, particularly on S.inir.iay evenings. N;»t only .-as the proposal advaiitagvona, but it v> as right and rt,aso:ia"!e. Oil a question of this nature it was u-.-cess-ny to before the public, iirst, the reasons for desiring a change, and next, the mode by which it was to be achieved. There were two crying evils which called for ainenument —non-working and over-work i.. The evil they v.-ere nutf to protc.-,. ntftin .t. vr.:B iivtv-.ivi.vkia,-. which vio.V-K-d «b«s Is tv« of nature. Work woiiH u. v v a ; it v.-as over, work and wor:",' -..n-.-yCi-jA. He quoted the coimuaii'hierd '• Sis days sbalt thou labor and do a 1 Uiy wo:-.:,"' a;i«l said it was in«•. inre: : -i to make it seven by ai-diug a hi ; • f •- v. r" !iiv;he and a vry lanjo piec • 01 >; .« win,. night. Lb' i.. i> <1 i i '-y woo! ! n v, i - in t■■ i ; ijo ! -';i\ s'-n-ii slus is '.'."or \>.d !U K'si ICS •'! t I u. ,y. Jt w;> • : ii v'" : ; ■ ;i t - : of i.ii;>;-.-: ! .ji : wire called upon to <> t' • in-Jilt. Alr-ed ' : 'e !?r.'.r leoi ; ivt . ihe ci«hi-li -'-.r s s -i-iii, «:td ir bell : f ■v ri it. >i ; rt r. :.;?(>-:'t11- ■ a;i op, ori,i. i iMi ■'-! :d rnl'.UiV, >!.•«(, V. :nee: : ry to ..f :*•(>••*» Jtmu. qU<-> ' i.: e.y • X ; 'i::p!Ci. ; ■ ".'.v liDvv <;i■ i! '' <:.* n rom riv low .-it aph-rc'S lv, he . iu; . p..)?:'ions ny , Meaus of irr.nl. piisoveih.ju: and • ske I that trpdei'iui-n at-d *.r.e.r ;■.-~iK' kl '.e "d «.] porrutli''h:< o£ j>r»»vn»v i !:cir iisuhß j., id that .>v. work in any branch c-i soce..'v <vas n*j - rjous io soci-.'Cy as i whole. T-ie puie e s:i' "ld remember thai, every pornse oi ::of in; v w,-;-; iK:eec-jH:i,:'y lo orioii orlirr, uii-.i i'ir-.i wiiiuever was iiijtirio'K io ons portion was injurious to t;.e wli : e. !U.- ba.:

■.'ov-,' pleasure in !ho f:jlio\dresolution : r ''lin" the l'ito ho'.'.r to vhio.h, pariieuv" on ;'-:-.turd::ys, the v-iaii hun/nrs nf tlr.s town »!•<! kept; open, invoivi-s an undue fax upon t'n<! of tradesmen Mid tnpb.wnvn'a *ll *'•*«• •• amo time pivcJiT' 1 ".;'. thoh having that L-i-inv for :iml mental :m;.> nvriit -o iicm.v.ry t» their ;aul un'olL-ctnal \xs>'. be: .eg. Mr. Sumpter. in poeondin:; the r«*.*.>lntion. said if", must In; evident to ;v-y 'nwalk in 2 tlit'nvivf'-i tli*-> t<>--n on Bn'>ir-l sv nic'sTs v/w for t:.kinrr action. iN"t i■■ :y (V , 'ratMm-p and fheir nssis'n'MS snii'iT. bur tin- ays. i; •ils-'i interfered groat iy vi ill j those v.'iti ■ w>-re '.vn-i'Ja.'i for thorn at ln-me. as it pv«>vonted ihuir indulging in n:-ivs?:ot ereaiii hi, pleasure. ;' •> 1. L! j hr.nra of labor were cuienbacd lo destroy a man's love for homy and its surroundings, as he e.uao hom-i iircd, wtwry, ntiu naturally nv'i'ul of mind. He though: tin- evil uiiuhc be lessened bv wages being j.aid at an earlier hour tlir.:i at pmror.i. or oven on r-n eaHier day than the ias' di'v in the week. i.-i-: shop; ing was the result of hahifc. When peonie k:vo\ ihat r.be" had a long rime in which fo do .•tnytliinu", t-'-ev were never iu a hurry, but put. oil' iw performance. He hop.-d that some concerted action would be • ak>u l-y tradesmen and their shopmen to put down the evil. The resol.-oinu was then ]• ut and carried unanimously. Sir. Ilislop, iu moving the second resolution, urged that the amount of business transacted in the shops might be got through in a much shorter time, and instanced the amount .of work done at tins ticket windows at railway stations to sh- >w what could be done in a few mimiU.s. '!" ere was one evil in the home country which should be avoided her-\ In Kng-l-m-i Jahov had too lUll-. power and canb-1

!•■• .:•{'.:. They should endeavor to kc-p ;; prop?r balance of power betwem the two, ami .".void the necessity for a. revolution. Ho had hoard tlic argument us,d that it was necessary to keep the shops open late in order to afford the working classes an opportunity to make tli.-ii-;«r • bases ; bur those who need tie-,t ,;•_; ; merit seemed to forget that r.ho.se in the shops required some time to make their own purchases &'; other establishments. Since coming into that room, he heard one ''enth-man—an employer—•r-.e ;ih an argument in favor of long hour.-, tie;:, when lie -•■.••;«, a shopman at iiome he lifi-1 '■! do siu'ii ,: >d such things, and that he did not see '■'•".he .•»>ioj)n;eii culd not do he «;-'io Live". .F:'"»"'. ni .rive-; of d.-lieaoy ho did not ask v.-.a- g-n ; kmian, as he might have done, wii.it, • ■.• ■■■■ mil havbeen if he had r, mahie! at Home—p>i-:-sil/iy a shopman siiii. The young m n did not come out here simply to benefit employers, but to improve their own

pfsiti ins. They did nut come here to perpetuate the evils of the old country, but to escape from them. Anvone who read tin; current literature would find that even at Home, the condition of employes was improving, and tiiey had a right to expect, an equal improvement- here. He concluded by moving tun following resolution :

That this meeting cnn«nle» , s tli.it ample t-i-t.e wo'ijil lie all >w d fin' ail olas-ses to make their necessary |sureiiast!Son Saturdays ware the various establishments elosivi at !> o'ew'k p.in. at latest, instead (if HI or 11, as at pi.'.-eut; anil I hut 011 o'ti-.-r d.-ys of tho week six o'clock )>. in, :s a sniiieiently late l;o::r, ami iircis upon employers the reasonableness of shortening to this extent the hours of labor of their employes. The K"v. Mr. (-Aiii'ird sucmdc-il the motion, ami said tit;t.c the Association would havo iiia uininst- sympathy, for it asked temperately for wliar io-.v had a tight to expect. lie had iio oiilit. tUat Vii- y would obtain all T.'.ev ask: d lor, and a m-i at deal more iu tint", tie was in f~v.>r of tiio i: sysu-Hi ]>ut'o and simple. and wished everyone could obtain it. There was not the s;mo n.Tewmy here a» at ilomo for shops to be kepi open bite. In tho Old ('o.itrry the wock-

i u lia«l t " pnivha*-- \ .-ryt niiig <>i> S-.it ny nuiM'.s, been ti si- t iu-y had to wail. i*.f lilt;':" W.Sg'.i, .liul l!n'V Willi M ill, II probably have to spend their las! shiUiii '•! ore. it should bo different. Uenirrally <H-nkiug b:ei*o was auiiietliinjj to smi(i .vitli during the week, and jmrcliHSoa wero over the whole v.e<k. The resolution was carried imnimonsly. Tiie Kev. Mr. Dawsbury said ho. proposed the next refti.lutiiin with \>K-a*tirt', because it was temperate in tone and thoroughly roa*<(liable. It had been their boast. in the Colony that in respee : •»t Hie hours of labour and the absence of oppression wo wer« t'*r a!;.! .il of tli-* Old Country ; and that iurst should not bo belied in "his matter. H... rrtrcvtt.-u to sec tbiit hoiub spirit of antagonism bad !>■ en ussnmod bv some employers toward:'. employe l ;, who Usui 'o-.'en atcu.vd of w■ 11ing to <-rind the uU-u>-i atom of service out of their assistants in order to m a-, much money as po-hii>io. They had no i-ij/lit to as:e,iui: >ue: an anragonistio a;.-i)'it towards their ■.•.nieloverw. blame .liil not rest tVro. Tho evil was sUrimn..'ole to the public, and, though it in - ;!H seen mipal-anl to say so. was "ivarly r:. i' ■i ?Ll- of fciio iit'lius, T.ta re v. if.imlo;iia)i concluded by proposing tiie following resolution ; Th.it th : s Home ei'v. s t.:rly clu in,' »•« b tv

; ,-ri •!!'■ •■"iiiiuidty in tin. way of i ho *d--n' ;•• . hours 'v:o. mid coudde.s doit i.h h ■!.- .e-.-ist inls as ;i eU'.:- aro i«i ! ,y >■!» = i*.'- '■"! •o exeuet that iii this C.iouy their po.-.b.m . had liiit be more op;i iviuUgeoiis than thrii, ..' -hoe ;.t liomu. Mr. G. .lollop, in d.e .ihsence of Vie. "v. U. Tm.v'ov, brioilv socioied liio r-i - i'ltioa, which whs eu.ried nni.n'moi»iy. Mr. Gib'os propone! i.::o TivXi n-» >bih io, niiii 6iii/l iii,'i. if the Ai«'fi.».:i .. •on'il exercise a liv.lo i -n aid a-obt 'he police in deter, i x infrio K ■• l nrs of the Femr.-i Ivnpl >\ .n-'lt Ae'. ,i,; V r. , . 1 '. , .*..i- 1 l Tiiif, Uih m 'ho p;. i.0!":»i '■■ubiie o. Mtoeorr 'lit m.Vf .ten • or- rli.'i- e' -hill,', l'V a!'' t hr.ini.; !neu li •!. •Mi • .'if or !) |).m. on' :-.„.t"rila\ s, anil U \> in. . o lev day; o: tho week. Mr. Foiv,'s, i''- a h.n-.- and fnreddr -■oe'-eb, see-ivied if r.■« >]nfion, i-hict, o siid, aski.il tie' ind.be i<> bee •> l■j, 'iioni-.is «n<l synin-!' .etie. nod insist in •,;--.m'. in.'j' :i brum oi s ho s' ■•ion "i, Tins Gbi'drm-iii, in pn.ti ..:; ili ■ vi'sobitio'n. oxervvH.-tl en: hope th.i, the ben 'bs ■•f tin-! inoveiiK-iit would be. ■■x-.ond»'d :o ;'di rra h?a. even to yin.-iuist-;. He s:udth:'t nnldie f.--liie.; on l..tr. niAi'or W.'U net boo!. .1 ro Mo-n pre- -,it at. t'o nie.-iiter. rs v:is cvidv.no. d i.y ri>o fs,.- ylriK no 1..., I ni.ii 7;il> rijni.-.furos h.-v.i be-no a..n-d in town to a meiuoniu in f.ivor oi eiih Th' roso.ntion v.« th npnt.ind ivivvioii unnidliioiisiy, --tint :i vofoot t'.ani-.s ■'ruin:: iieen neeord'-il \o tile C'edrman. the nne'bv. t rmivrrted.