The Blacksmith's Half-Holiday.

Hastings Standard, Issue 69, 16 July 1896, Page 2

The Blacksmith's Half-Holiday.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —At a time like the present, when the half-holiday question is in everyone's mouth, I think it is a good opportunity of making a few remarks through your paper n> the blacksmith's half-holiday. There are six blacksmith's shops in Hastings, and not one of them close at all during the week ; in fact, one of them kept open on the afternoon declared a half-holiday on account of the races. The two factories (Jones's and Symonds's) shut every Saturday afternoon, but that day being a busy one with shoeing smiths, the latter could well afford to give a few hours' holiday on a Wednesday afternoon. It seems that the men who do tlfe hardest work, get the least encouragement for it, while those that serve behind the counter and do not soil their fingers, get a half holiday w r eekly to recover from the fatigue of their arduous duties. I suppose the Government authorities consider that blacksmiths get sufficient amusement in shoeing stringhalt and unbroken horses and therefore do not require any of a different character to break the monotony of their weekly routine. I think it is a downright scandal that every other tradesman should be compelled to shut his shop, while the blacksmiths keep open, and bang away at the iron with as happy a conscience as if they had given a few hundred pounds to a charitable institution, which their employees were reaping the benefit of. Thanking you for using your influence in putting a stop to this great wrong, which I am sure will be received gratefully by all in the same profession as myself,—l am, &c., Horse Shoe. Hastings, July 15th, 1896.