THE EIGHT-HOURS MOVEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 5968, 28 April 1882, Page 2

THE EIGHT-HOURS MOVEMENT.

TO THE BDITOB. Sib, —The other evening at the meeting to consider the legalising of the eight-hoars movement, Mr Stout said that he agreed with nearly all that Mr Green had said ; Mr Fish said he endorsed every word Mr Swat had said, and all the people said .Amen. Mr Stout told the audience to be in earnest in the matter if they meant to make the anair a success, and he pointed out that the work*, ing classes were themselves to blame for working long hours. It was merely a bad habit, he said, like drinking and smoking, which people accustomed themselves to, and required to be broken off. The letter written by a shopgirl to Mr Green is worthy of notice. I ask Why in the name of humanity should the pale-faced shopmen and shopwomen and girls be subjected to long hours of close confinement ? Allow me to urge upon your readore the necessity of at once making their powet felt by giving up the habit of shopping after six o’clock. I have laid the law down in my house that no shopping is to be done after six o’clock, and that we will encourage only those shops which do close at sit. Now if all will do the same there will be less gas bills to pay, and no shopkeeper will.be any worse off at the end of the year., Now, shopmen, why don’t you take 'Mr Stout’s advice ? The remedy is in yonr own hands—just say We are determined w;e, won't work alter six, and the battle is won. If one or two shops

naiat upon keeping open till * Ute boor to suit st reasonable hour.—l »f Dunedin, April 20* : y ' ; '■ '■ r***SW '