Meeting of Shop Assistants.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 140, 12 December 1894, Page 4

Meeting of Shop Assistants.

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION. A large meeting of shop assistants was held in the Exchange Buildings last evening, for the purpose of considering the half-holiday question. Mr. Henry Martin, who was voted to the chair, explained that power to select the day on which the half-holiday should bo obsorvod was now left t« the City Council. Some people wanted ouo day and othera wanted some other day. His opinion was that tho shops should oloso on Saturday, and there were a number of employers who also held that it was most inconvenient that the shops should close on a Wednesday. It wa3 proposed to take a ballot of the assistants, and when the result was known a petition should be prosonted to tho Council praying that the shops should bo closed on the particular day selected by the majority. Mr. G. B. Clark said that so far as he could ascertain tho majority of the assistants in the southern end were in favonr of Wednesday. On tho otlior hand, thoßO who worked in Lambton.quay shops thought that Saturday should bo the day. Ho thought that steps Bhould bo taken to obtain the view of every assistant in the city before proßonting a petition to the Council. Tho Chairman pointed out that there was no timo to lose, as the petition must be before the Counoil by next Thursday. Mr. W. Si mm did not consider the present meeting was thoroughly representative. He thought the Secretary had made a mistako in not notifying to the different shops the faot that a meeting' was to be held. Ho for ono objeotod to Wednesday being substituted at present for Saturday, believing that the public was not yet sufficiently educated to the closing of shops on Saturday. Mr. H. Evans said that as the factories were closed on the Saturday, it was desirable that the front shops should also be shut at the same time. Mr. J. Q. Chambers siid it was his firm belief that if a public ballot were taken it would be found that the majority of the people wero in favonr of Saturday closing. The only people who really objected to the shops closing on Saturday wore a few employers. The employes hnd benefited greatly by the Wednesday dosing, and ho really bolieved that it had been to tho interests of tho shopkeepers to shut their establishments once a week. At present some einpl >y<M were still in tho workroom while the others wore absent taking recreation. This was au inconvenient arrangement, and he thought it would be be better if all the employe's took their half-holiday at one time. Personally speaking, he thought it would be found generally convenient if Saturday were soleoted. Mr. J. C. Libby considered that tho meeting was thoroughly representative. He objeoted to a canvass of the various establishments, believing that a ballot was proforablo. Mr. Simm still maintained that tho shops south of Manners-street were not properly represented at the present mooting 1 . Mr. Postgate favoured Saturday. Mr. Penny pointed out that a large number of assistants who knew about the meeting were not present. That was not the fault of those who had attended. Mr. Chambers moved that a ballot should be taken amongst those present to decide which day should be selected for closing. The motion was seconded by Mr. James Dawson. Mr. Simm said that not more than six shop assistants from the southern end were present. He moved that a ballot be taken in each shop. Mr. Richard Roberts asßertod that the present was tho largest meeting re shop closing that he had ever seen in Wellington. He himself had taken st'ps to inform many shoo assistants of the meeting. Mr. J. B. Taylor said that the meeting waa only representative of the shops in one port of the oity. He did not think it wonld be desirable to seleot Saturday, as if the shops were dosed that day there would have to be a late night on the Friday. Ho seconded tho amendment. The Chairman pointed out that he praferred the Saturday half -holiday because ho would be able to take out his children with him for some reoreation, whereas on the Wednesday he was not able to do so without taking them away from school. The motion was carried, and a ballot being taken (Messrs. W. Simm and E. Atmore acting as scrutineers) it was found that 39 were in favonr of Saturday and 3 in favour of Wednesday. It was decided to Eond the result of the ballot to tho City Council without delay. Votes of thanks to tho chair and the press representatives terminated the meeting.