EARLY CLOSING.-A GOOD EXAMPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XV, Issue 3761, 30 August 1882, Page 3

EARLY CLOSING.-A GOOD EXAMPLE.

(To the Editor >

Sin,—l am glad to see that a spirited grocery firm in Qaeen-street (Messrs Glanvllle and Ellyott) announce through your columns their intention of closing their establishment in future at the sume hour on Saturdays as other days, viz., 6 p.m.. This is certainly a bold venture, and shows no email amount of courage, as weli as faith In the publlo. But it la a step la the right direction, and If I mistake not wUI meet with hearty support from their customers. When I came here a few years ago I was pleased to see that the Uueon street houses (with a few exceptions) oloeed their places ofjbuslneea at 6 p.m. the first Aye nights in the week, thus giving their employes leisure and opportunity for reoreatlon and improvement. 1 oannot ooncelve that any of these houses have been losers by suoh an enlightened potior. I am quite sure tha* as a rule their assistants have been largely benefitted, andfmade belter men and women, and will make better citizens, for having these hours ot evening leisure. It must be matter for sincere congratulation, to all well-wishers of commercial prosperity, to boo the efforts that have been put forth by early clOßlng associations, to place those engaged as assistants in shops on about the same footing bs to time ot working hours, as persons engaged in other callings; all must rejoioa to see the rapid strides whloh have been aoh'eved In this direction. In my early life a day's work cor slated of ten hours, or sixty hours per week, for working men; but for those engaged «s assistants in shops the hours depended on the oustoms or habits of the locality. In towns the hours wero from nicety to one hundred per week. 1 remember most vividly my first start from home In 1816 In a retail house of business near London, where four assistants and apprentices were employed. The hours were from seven In tbe morning tin ten at n'ght-flve nUhts In the week; and on Saturdays shop never dosed till after midnight, I think it will exoite no earnrlae when I say that from tbat time till new I have been a strong odvooate for «ar)y closing. After looking at the matter In all its bearings, I oannot see why those engaged as assistants In business eßtobilahmsnrs should be obliged to toll longer hours per wcok than persons engaged in other oalllngß. Custom is the only ground ou which it can be dofended; and as social oustoms and habits change by publlo opinion being brought to bear upon them, let us hope that those who advocate ea'ly cloilng will Ibe able to educate publlo opinion in thla most important matter to uuch an extent that those establishments which refuse to rucognlso the justness and equity ot closing at a fair and reasonable hour,will find themselves ostracised. Wißhlng overy success to those who pioneer the way—l am yours, etc, | J. P, Fhonerlk,