CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 16 December 1920, Page 8

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—After ' reading the letters appearing in your issue of the 14th and. loth respectively, there is certainly reason to reply in a neutral spirit, I> not being a member of the executive of the Retailers' Association, feel that something should be said to uphold more or less the retailer's executive s view of the decision they made. Jnrst of all every sane man knows we are busy before Christmas, and every sane maii kiiows business is slack after. During the busy season, generally speaking, most employers treat their staff well and are compelled in many cases to treat their clients well, ana while they are closed the expenses are still going on, and when they are open after Christmas the expenses "still gP On " But while the expenses are stm goino- on, the staff is having an easy timeT because there is nothing to do, and many of the staff get extra days, and which they get paid for, but ssome of them squeak. Is there something wrong with them or are they not capable of earning their wages? The writer has certainly no time for an employer that will not pay a man for what extra efforts he makes, and 1 may also .state that during one month in this year I lost 145 working nours collectively amongst ,my stall, and which they were paid for. Lord Jelncoe came, also the Prince, also peace celebrations, etc., but still most employees got paid full time. Do the 1 employees think or the hours they waste" during the week by the use or 'phones and talking to their friends at the door, etc.? I suppose these things do not count with tnem, or do they care about what they break or lose of »their employers' while on duty. 1 presume."Fair Play" and "Saturday" are not under any award, and I would advise, them to immediately form a union so that they will have someone to look after them, as the way they are talking they cannot look after themselves individually. The way- things are at the present time is no time to create friction, and the employees would.do well to do their best for their "boss," and by doing that they wilJ do the best for 'themselves.' We may come back to the old times, when you could push the employee at a minutes' notice, but we sincerely hope this will not come about. There's no one that can do without money, and if the employer is without it's the end of the employee, so why should the p -^ T> ).n-rf>p growl and wish that he should, have a, life of joy and holidays *<na not expect to worK when the work ip tWe to do? Work keeps men out of mischief, and the more they have to ab the better men they rare. Idleness is no good to any man, but a mar. should be paid for what he does. Some men expect to earn as much as their master. It's a free country, and if he has energy enough why does he not be a master? Being a master'is not all honey, and most masters were once workers. So why worry? Let us all pull together and do our best for everybody and everything will be all right, thanking you, Mr Editor.—] am 'etC-' RETAILER. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln reference to the Wednesday closing question, I am glad to see that Mr Gilbert has been interviewed on this question. Now. Sir, Mr Gilbert states that the decision to remain open on the three Wednesdays during the holidays has the unanimous support of the Retailers' Association. J am presuming, Sir, that ,he really meant the members who were present at the last meeting. If that irf so. it doesn't appear to me to have been a very representative, meeting, as we find on investigation that most of the members present at that meeting were shopkeepers, who have a very smaiJ staff, and not in a. pusitoin to speak r'oi the busier firms'. I would also like to know.the attitude of the retailers who are not members of the Association. J think I am safe in paying, Sir, that there are more retailers outside of the Association than there are members. As for the special holidays which occurred during the year, 1 don't think the Retailers' Association have much room to grumble, as we worked on the Wednesday afternoon to make up for it. I defy anyone to prove that the retailer loses directly or indirectly as a result of. a holiday, and it is absurd for Mr Gilbert to say that the expenses are just as high if the shop is open or not. As for the little extra business which Mr Gilbert seems to be 6O urgently in need of, I should like to say, Sir, that whenever the shops are open on a Wednesday afternoon we hardly get a customer. Of course, Si», we all know retailers are having an anxious time just at present, but they always forget to mention what a glorious time they had during the war. And if times are causing os a. little anxiety it doesn't justify the attitude of the Retailers' Association. I thank you, Mr Editor, for allowing us to ventilate our grievance in these letters. I am not a member of a union, and never have been, but if the shop j assistants form an association I would feel justified in- joining it. Again thanking you for valuable space—l am, etc.,

FAIR PLAY.