THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2664, 13 November 1871, Page 3

THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOB OP THE PBESS, Sir, —I am one of those who entirely agree with the half-holiday movement, so far. that there shall be a half holiday, but with all due deference to the promoters, I think they are " barking up a wrong tree " ia trying to fix Saturday, and that their very praiseworthy efforts will in consequence prove uaavailing. Now this would be a pity. Why should not the townspeople have a half-holiday, if they want one ? There is no necessity for giving Teasons; thoee at the late meeting appeared to mc quite superfluous. Aβ the impecunious Skunpole T$-

' plied to the irate butcher, who. with a long • unpaid bill, asked "Why did you order t "spring lamb at eigteen;>.>nce n pound?" " Why ! because I likod spring i unb." So i do we like a holiday ; but as the S'cimpolian : procedure would not probably be very satis- ; factory about the fourth of the month to [ our traders, can we not manage" to have [ the relaxation without paying too l dear for our whistle, and rather foli low Mrs Gilpin. '-Who while on pleasure ; bent, had still a frugal mind? " I think we i can, and would suggest that Wednesday be tried instead of Saturday—the ordinary cur- ; rent of business would he undisturbed, and our country friends, instead of being put to inconvenience by the present proposed ; change, would reap the benefit of the later hours of the public offices and banks, the ; early closing of which on the Saturday is , found to be often a disadvantage. So long as the Sunday is a day of rest, the Saturday will continue to be the day most easily spared by the farmer for transacting his outside business; and as trades are to a great extent dependant on this large body of consumers, self interest must gain the day, and it will be found that no man in his senses will continue to keep his shutters closed on Saturday if he finds that his business is leaving him in consequence. I see no prospect therefore that the Saturday holiday will be maintained for any time, but every probability that the Wednesday would be permanent. At any rate, it is worth a trial, and would cost nothing, as all could afford to close without injury to their business. Do not let the present movement become of no value. We left England to escape taxation, and having '• fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire " in this respect, any project for assisting us to be jolly under the burden, I should not be allowed to drop. I am, Sec, ClvlS.