WANTED, 700 ODD ELLS OF BACKBONE.

Evening Star, Issue 10343, 17 June 1897, Page 3

WANTED, 700 ODD ELLS OF BACKBONE.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—Your correspondent •' Not a Member of Retailers* Association," writing in your yesterday's issue, suggests that an effort should be made by persons interested in observing the record reign festivities to shorten the workiDg hours of shop assistants during record reigu week. In connection therewith permit me, as an outsider, to offer a little suggestion, as follows:—That immediate steps be taken to raise subscriptions from the sympathetic publio for the purpose of equipping an up-to-date club room for the special accommodation of Bhop assistants during record reign week, for the purchase of tickets to all the shows for their use, for the hiring of the best conveyances the City affords to convey them wherever they may wish to go, and the establishment of a fund from which their salaries may be made equal to say £5 per week until they may desire to retire from active life. The ouly difficulty in the matter that presents itself to my mind is the difficulty of overcoming their hypercritical sensitiveness, diffidence, and modesty sufficiently to enable them to accept such benefits when provided. la urging my suggestion for the public acceptance it is necessary also to urge that the greatest care be taken not to offend the shop assistants' aesthetic tastes or injure I their super-sensitiveness.—l am, etc., I Tiie Gods Heju- Those who HeliThemselves. Dunedin, June 17.