EARLY CLOSING.

Evening Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 76, 18 October 1882, Page 3

EARLY CLOSING.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir— -Now that the above question has again cropped up, I should like, for the benefit of the promoters, to make one or two remarks theroon. About three years ago an attempt was mode to obtain the half holiday among the retail drapers. The employers, almost unanimously, admitted tho principle of a weekly half holiday to be right ; but the rock on whioh they split was which day of the week should the holiday be held—Wednesday or Saturday. The drapers on Lambton Quay objected to close on Wednesday, arguing that the middle of the week was not > a convenient time, for many reasons, and that Saturday was thanaturaland legitimate day on whioh to close. The assistants would then be able to fraternise and enjoy themselves with their compeers engaged in other business departments in the city. Tho To Aro employers, on tho other hand, were in favour of the Wednesday afternoon, arguing that the trade done on the Quay and that done on To Aro Flat were entirely differont, "which nobody can deny, and that the nature of their trade rendered it impossible for the safe conduct of their business to forego the Saturday evening trade. Thus the matter ended in a deadlock. Benefiting by the experience gained on past occasions, I would offer this advice to the promoters of the movement— Do not attempt groat things all at once ; advance by degrees, step by step.' Agitate for a universal closing of all drapers and clothiers' establishments at nine punctually on Saturday evening. Next summer try and make the dosing hour eight. The following summer might see it brought down to six. From six to two or three in the afternoon would then be a comparatively easy transition. It is a notorious faot that the great supporters of late hours are labouring men and mechanics — the very men who raise an indignant howl and band together in trado unions to support their much-loved eight hour system, or on any other occasion when their craft is in danger. It is not the middle or genteel classes who find it necessary to shop on Saturday or any other night, it is in most coses tho wife of the thriftless son of toil, living from hand to mouth, who finds it necessary to do so. It is this class who require educating in the principles of early closing, 'and more particularly' in the golden Soriptural rule, "Do unto others as you would that they should do to you." I am, &0., Spectator. i iii i