The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1625, 1 May 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875

For the cause that lacks assistance, i'or the wrong: tint needs resistance. *sr the fature in the distance. Ami the good that we can do.

We would direct attention to a warm and earnest appeal from the " Early Closing Association," published in the columns of our supplement to-day. It is addressed to the "Working Classes," though it would be .difficult.} to say who among us belong not to ihe " Working Classes ;" for save a fewidle drones in the hive we aro all "workers" in colonial life. However, this appeal is intended to reach those who are in the position

of employed, and work for wages, and espei ally those whose hands daily earn their daily bread. And the appeal is made by others—yoahg men and young women —who, though not exposed to the rain and winds and suas without, yet spend long and weary hours in similar service for others, daily earning their daily bread with their hands. It is an appeal, an earnest,. heartfelt appeal f rom men and women to brothers and sisters in hired toil"; but brothers and sisters, fo for whom has beep already fought and won the battle cf labour against selfishness, and who enjoy the inestimable boon of reasonable hours of labour. And there is this .touching element in the apreal, that it is made to those, who are charged but we believe falsely charged—with being the cause of the inflicbion of this great wrong. For when the " Early Closing Association" put forth their efforts for having those employed in the retail establishments liberated from toil at six o'clock in the evening, they are confronted with the statement that " working men " and their wives will not have it so j that these must do their shopping to suit their own convenience, aud that is, after six o'clock. Is this true ? We admit that for those employed ia working during the day, after six o'clock is most convenient for shopping ; but is it true that this matter of mere convenience will induce " working men" to refuse to others the inestimable boon of short hours which they have won for themselves ? We know that selfishness is a powerful influence in human society, but we do not believe that " working men " and their wives in Auckland will be so dead to all justice and generoii3 sentiments as to turn a deaf ear to this appeal. There is no interference intended by the Association with long hours on the night of Saturday—the day on which wages are usually paid, and the night on which shopping is most usually and most conveniently done by the " working classes." Then the assistants in retail establishments will cheerfully wait till any hour, even to the striking of the midnight chimes, to meet the wants and suit the convenience of those to whom they now appeal. Many of the " woiking classes" "knock off" early on Saturday, and have partial holiday. But never mind. These shop-assistants want no half-holiday ; they don't want to " knock off" early. They will give id I Saturday evening up, to wait on others' convenience ; and they ask this small favour in return, namely, that they shH.ll not be compelled to toil away on Monday, Tuesday, Wednes day, Thursday, and Friday evenings too. Is this too much to ask ? Working men of Auckland, is this request unreasonable ? Permit us to add our pleading to those of your brothers and sisters in toil. Wives of working men ! We know yon look for your Star as you look for your husbands' return in the evening. We try to bring you infor mation and recreation, and we know that you like the Star, because it id ever on the side of weakness and right. We are pleading now for the weak and for justice, Will you do us this great favour? Don't shop after six. The matter is in your hands. You can sustain this Association if you will. There are young girls as well as young men, contributing from their scanty earnings to tbe funds for carrying on this long struggle, you prolong the struggle by shopping after six, and so giving excuse to employers to say " the working classes must have it so." Resolve that thi3 shall be said no more ; and as you have—many of. you —children of your own growing up, who may yet be engaged in a similar struggle, have pity, and have mercy, and d m't shop after six.