THE SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING MOVEMENT. Meeting at Cambridge.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1906, 23 September 1884, Page 2

THE SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING MOVEMENT. Meeting at Cambridge.

A public meeting was held in the Public Hall on Friday evening to discuss the present situation in respect to the eaily closing movement. There was a faiil/ large attendance. The platform was occupied by Mr W. L. C. Williams (in tlie chair) the Yen Archdeacon Willie, the 1 Re\ . H. R. Dewaburyand Messrs Jno Hnughton, "William Reid, and Oni'»n<?, Saundei-. Apologies were lead fioin the Row William Evans Rev. J. ii. Wilson, and Me»ii> T. Wells, and J. P. Thompson. The Chairman, in opening the pmceedings, explained the object for which the meeting had been called, and spoke strongly in favour of the e.uly closing movement, :1s 1 against the evil effects and undesirabl' consequences of the system of all work an 1 no play, which keeping locarbusiiies'} hou'-e-t I open till 8 o'clock 1 would entail. Mr Griffin ascended the pl.itform, and, amid applause, proposed the following resu lution :—": — " Tli.it in the social, physical and religions interests of the tiadespeoplo of the town, it is desirable that all the business premises close at si\ o'clock p.m. ; th.it this hour has ,ih eady been tried for some months past with the most satisfactoiy 10 b>ults ; that the. ntorekuepers having almost without exception expressed themselves still anxious to maintain it — this meeting pledges itself to Mippoit and countenance those houses only which adhere to the six o'clock closing, and to use all constitutional and legitimate means to attain this boon." Mi GiiHi» delivered an interesting address in support. Mr Sanndeis seconded the lesolntion, and pointed out the headship whicli fixing t\>o bom for closing at 8 o'clock would entail. The resolution w<i» put and earned by acclamation. Mr Kmeidou then proposed: — "Th.it the stoiekeepeia be requested to continue to close their places of business at (> o'clock." Mr Alfoid seconded, and the lesolution was put and ciriied unanimously. Mr Onions then moved :—": — " That a com mittee, consisting of the Yen Archdeacon Willis, the Revs. W. Evans H. R. Dmw bury and J. 14. Wilson, and Messis Wells, Menick, Honghton, Evans, Roid, Sandeis, Giim"n, Onions, Siimns and Mooie be appointed to give effect to the foregoing iesolutions. Mr Brooks suggested that the name "f Mr Kincaid might be added. Some time ago he had suen that gentleman's name on bills- posted about the town under the inscription :— " We, tlie undersigned, heieby agiee to close our lespective places of business at bix o'clock, &c," and judging from thi^ lie believed Mr Kineaid's assistance might be very material. —Name added accordingly. The addresses delivered in suppoit of the lespective motions were to the point and well leceived, and the ready manner in which the l evolutions were adopted, and the general enthusiasm which pre\ ailed indicated the unanimity of public feeling upon the question. All piesent pledged themselves not to make theii domestic pm chases after six o'clock, and to pievail upon all their friends in the town or in the di&tiict to adopt a similai couuse. The grave injustice and haidship which keeping the businest.-hou.ses open till 8 o'clock would inflict upon the numerous assistants and their families was pointed out. It was shown that bv not getting free until 8 o'clock they would be debarred taking pait m any of the social, lehgious or litei.uy movements of the town, and that not only would thn assistants be thus inconvenienced but the movements or iiiotiLutions to which they belonged would in all probability collapse for want of sufficient membeis. Again, under the 8 o'clock system it was aigued that to be a storekeepers assistant in Cambiidge meant being a veiitable slave, as one's occupation would admit of nothing but woik and sleep, and no mcntfll or physical recreation. This was not the proper way for a laige poi tion of the members ot the community to be condemned to a system of genteel hlaveiy to suit the convenience of a few people who shopped after houis, not because they could not shop befoie hour.-*, but simply because the opportunity na« atfoi ded them, and they took advantage of it, though by being deprived of such opportunity they would not in any way be inemvenienced. Again, it was shown that under the 8 o'clock system a man's domestic ties would be seiionsly infceifoied with ; leaving home befoie 8 o'clock of a morning and not getting back until about 9 o'clock at night, his fii'oside would never know his piesence, his little garden would remain untouched, and intellectual improvement or social gatherings could never be dreamt of.