EARLY CLOSING.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 965, 29 November 1882, Page 4

EARLY CLOSING.

TO THE EDITOR I SIR, —Early closing is a question that has been before the public for many years, and is yet, a question under discussion in the Old Country, where there is more unit}' of action in trades than can be expected in small colonial townships. To my mind the question concerns three parties, the public,the shopkeepers, and the employees. First “ the public,” by whom we live, or on whom we attempt to live, should have first consideration. In a country town, people are early astir, and we find here that shops require to be open at 8 a .in. for the convenience of some, others again such as mechanics and laborers, who work until 5 p.m., often require to purchase tools, clothing, provisions, &c., and naturally prefer to "o lioine, have a wasli and tea before shopping, this will occupy until 6 pm. Wives and mothers who have domestic duties and children to attend to, often find it more convenient to shop in the evening, and in the summer it is the pleasantest time, the heat and the dust being almost unbearable during the day. Second “ the shopkeepers,” their object-is or should he to study the convenience of their customers, “ the public.” Thirdly, “ the emphases,” here the question should he viewed with a broad unselfish mind both by the public and employers. In this town, I have stated, employees are found at their post at 8 a.m., they are expected to be always at work, always attentive, good humored and obliging to every customer. In many shops whore (he air is oppressive from the nature of the goods, perhaps ventilation defective, through the long sultry or dusty summer days they are found on their legs from 8 in the morning until 8 in the evening, and 10 to 12 on Saturday evenings, with only half an hour to dinner, and tlie same fo tea- ICo matter ho\v weary or tired they' may be, or how (heir head aches and they long to be out in the coul evening, they must be all smiles and attention to the public, and as a rule, “ counter jumpers ” throw their hearts into their work and are proud to effect sales and give satisfaction both to employer and public, and should have every consideration in return. I would suggest that the public and employers should concede two days each week, say Tuesday and Thursday to early closing, and that on these days everyone should knock off work at 5 p.m., so that a game of cricket, boating, gardening, or a walk or ride could Ve indulged in. Then the rest of the week need not be interfered with for lam convinced if we would only mingle a little more together, there would bo less jealousy and selfishness among shopkeepers, and earlier closing would, gradually’ become the rule ; but at present anyone strolling through the town about 8 p.m. will find large drapery warehouses, grocers’ shops, general stores, cabinetmakers’, watchmakers’, saddlers’, bootmakers’, tinsmiths’, fancy goods’, tobacconists’, fruiterers’shops, merchants’, auctioneers’, commission agents’, shipping agents’, lawyers’, and printing offices all lit up, and the occupants at work. The question is, will all these be induced to relax their love of work or gain for even two nights in 'he week ? And another question is, do the agitators for earlyclosing intend to keep the billiard-markers and publicans at work until 12 p.m.? Why should the question of early-closing and evening rest be confined to the “ counter-jumper?”—even the policeman, I have no doubt, would feel thankful to see business places closed before 12 p.m. Why not commence by asking the public to abstain from late shopping ?. By united action a great deal can be done, and if the public cease to resort to shops and other places of business after a certain hour, either for business or to lounge away the time, shopkeepers and others will see they can close earlier with advantage to themselves and assistants.—Yours, &c., Commercial.