CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15768, 8 December 1916, Page 6

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

TWO LATE NIGHTS FOR SHOP ASSISTANTS. Yesterday Mr H. Cooper, secretary of the Canterbury Retail Drapers' Association, forwarded the following letter to Mr W. J. Green, secretary of the Grocers' Union. The letter explains itself:— "In reply to your favour of yesterday's date, asking for a conference of grocers' and drapers' assistants and employers regarding the coming holidays. This letter was considered by the Retail Drapers' Association, and I am directed to rcplv that as far as that body is concerned it is proposed to observe the following:—December 18th, closc all day; Friday, December 22nd, close at 9 p.m.; Saturday. December 23rd, close at 10 p.m. On Friday, December 22nd, it will be arranged that the staff shall have time off so that the hours worked will not exceed an ordinary day. Friday, December 29th, close at 9 p.m.; .Saturday, December 30th, close at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, January 2nd, close all day. The concessions will be found to cover—December 23rd, I hour, viz., closing 10 p.m. instead of II p.m.; December 30tli, 9 hours, viz., closing 1 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.; January 2nd, 9 hours, viz.. closing all day. This concession of nineteen hours should more than compensate for the keeping of shops open for two consecutive nights before Christmas, especially as the three hours shops arc open on the Friday night will not entail any extra service on the part of the staffs'." A Christchurch firm of importers and merchants has circularised its customers to the following effect: "We ask that you will note our intention to closc our warehouso and office for three and a half days between the Christmas and New Year holidays. By sacrificing these few day s wo can enable our •staff to Have ten days' continuous holiday, and we are anxious to do this because the year has been a very trying one fo r everyone, and it socras a P'ty not to take advantage of this opportunity for a brief time in recuperation. We are not unmindful of your convenience, and our object in giving such lengthy notico is to ask for your co-operation in the matter by letting Us know your requirements sufficiently ahead for us to deal with them in 6ur.h a way that you will not suffer any inconvenience whatever."