SATURDAY NIGHT SHOPPING.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7552, 15 May 1890, Page 6

SATURDAY NIGHT SHOPPING.

TO TOE BDITOR Of IHI PEES 3. Sib,— Being an admirer of fair play I must say I was very much surprised to read the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Drapers and Tailors' Association, to the effect that the public were so inconvenienced by the members cf the Association closing their places of business at 9 p.m. that they very reluctantly decided to extend the hours of closing on Saturday nights, which means 10 or 11 o'clock for the shop assistants and unfortunate saleswomen in the various drapery establishments. The members who constitute such an Association must feel highly elated at the fickleness of their minds when they decide to take the step which j lias emanated . from their midst in the short space of time which they have allowed to lapse since passing a resolution to .the effect, that they would close their respective places of business at nine o'clock on Saturday evenings. My perambulations during the three Saturday nights which the shops have been closed at nine o'clock 'I have endeavored, and with some saecess, to note to what extent the Saturday night shopping had been relaxed by the public; and; be.if said, to the credit of the working class, that the Saturday night shop-goers are almost a thing of the past. As a proof of the stagnation of trade on the last three Saturday nights, it i* a notable fact .that the employers of several of the large establishments may, be seen exercising their anatomy in the front of the various places of business, to see if there are any customers about. This , in itself eoes to prove that if the public are so fearfully inconvenienced as the Association, would have them believe, howis it these employers can spare so much of their time in looking round and viewing .their rival business houses. To make myself doubly sure of the supposed inconvenience which the 'public were suffering, on. account of the Association shops closing at so inconvenient ah hour'as* nine "o'clock, I stationed myself in a position which commanded the entrance to four drapery and hat establishments on Saturday night last,

end I can positively state that there not over -fifty parsons of all, ages and sizes entered these respective estAttlisnments between the hours of seven ana nine p.nu, that is as regards three of them. For judging from the alownees of business one establishment closed before nine par., and the descent of the ahuttera w a * the signal for mc making a hasty retreat to the bosom of tny family, and there to conjure, in my mind, how much the geaerai public were inconvenienced, and how deligutfally happy the homes would be if fathers, brothers and sisters, who are compelled to work late on Saturday nights, would feel If they could be allowed the convenience of being able to inhale a little of the pure atmosphere of fresh air. which is in striking: contrast to the poisonous gaaea which pervade these establishments on Saturday nights. Trusting the Early Closing Association will continue their praiseworthy efforts to obtain their object, wiiich I commend to every man and woman in this city and suburbs to give them their hearty support and co-operation in their laudable undertaking. Thanking you for so much space in your valuable columns.—l am, &c, Matkrfamujas.