EARLY CLOSING

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1902, Page 2

EARLY CLOSING

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In your last Friday's issue, re Trades and Labour meeting, the secretary is reported to have waited on a member of the Grocers' Union re closing at nine o'clock on Saturday, and the reply was, it cannot be done, as the workers will not shop before that hour. Well, Sir, we know a lot of workers are that way inclined, but if the shops were not open they could not shop, and were it not for the greed of a number of shopkeepers, who employ no labour at all, and keep open all hours of the night, to the detriment of those who do employ labour, the thing could be accomplished, but as at present nothing but an Act" of Parliament will do it; and that is what I would suggest to tii-e Labour Council, to try and have an Early Closing Bill put through next session, and not have it among- the slaughter of the innocents, as was the case last session. It would be a boon to a lot of shopkeepers, as well as the employees, as there are some parts of the town where you can shop from early morning till ten o'clock some nig-hts and 11.30 p.m. on Saturdays. If you want an example of it, go along the Great North l\oad and see for yourself. ,It is the likes oil that which causes the employer of labour to grumble and say it cannot be done. 7-1 am, etc.,

SHORT HOUES