SHOP ASSISTANTS, ORGANISE!

Evening Star, Issue 7613, 16 May 1888, Page 4

SHOP ASSISTANTS, ORGANISE!

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Several letters have appeared lately in the papers calling attention to the evils of late hours in the retail shops. The tale has been told so often ! Why don’t the assistants act for themselves ? Why don’t they organise ? Why don’t they agitate ? Are those in shops closing at six so .selfish and indifferent to others loss favorably circumstanced as not to try to form a society to agitate, and agitate till the other shops close? Arc those working after six such miserable cowards that they are afraid to join ? Selfish and cowardly ! these arc hard names. Yet what else arc they, when deploring their fate, but doing nothing to help themselves ? Would that such terms did sting them into action. Let a monster petition bo signed, and send it to Parliament to strengthen the hands of those who arc trying to pass a Bill for their benefit. There are many employers who now keep open who will be heartily glad if the Bill becomes law. Were the late shops to agree to close, the agreement would soon be broken through. It has been tried before and failed. No, sir, stronger measures must be used. The remedy is in the hands of the assistants themselves. Let them combine and declare war to the knife till success attends them.—l am,’etc., One who would .d in thf. Society. Dunedin, May 15.