ROYALTY AND HOLIDAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 5

ROYALTY AND HOLIDAYS.

.TO Ahe editor. Sir, —Your correspondent, Charles H.' Smith, seems inclined to doubt that I am an employee, but the fact remains that I am employed in the grocery trade, and have been for the last fourteen, years. I have no reason to doubt .hat Charles H. Smith is an employer, as I have‘known him by icpute for a number of years. If I bave overestimated the proportion of the 1 Employers’ Association, that were in favour of the two days’ holiday I can only say that I have been misinformed. Bub still the ■ fact remains that a very small proportion of the retail traders of Christchurch are (under the heading of the Employers’ Association), dictating bo the whole pf the storekeepers as to what days and at what time they shall close. . Surely, if an employer does not choose to join this Association he is not to be- altogether ignored. As Charles H. Smith seems very strong on the bare majority question, let him get a vote of all the retail employers in and around Christchurch, and he will find a very krgo majority in favour of the two drays’ holiday. Those firms who still refuse to close will be very prominent in the public eye, and I would remind them “ lest they forget ” that the Christchurch citizens are loyal and! true. I have already heard of several per- .; sons who are withdrawing their patronage from some of those houses which are remaining open.—l am, etc., i THE YUUTH.

TO THE EDITOR. ' . ' . Sir, —On. behalf erf a very hard-worked class for whom the public don’t seem to have much sympathy, I would like to ask if it, is not possible for the hotelkeepers to close for, say, two hours, on Saturday, so as to tallow their employees an opportunity of witnessing the procession. It is ■well-known that on all public occasions hotel employees have to work harder and longer hours, and without any extra recompense, and cannot the public now rise, to the occasion and demand that the hotels close at leash their bars for two hour*? I venture bo say that no 'hotel in Christchurch would, suffer any loss by doing so. Any other class of business people would have fne public up in arms against them if they denied this small concession to their em-ployees.-—I am, etc., FAIR PLAY. TO THE EDITOR. , , Sir, —I beg to call attention to what I consider a great hardship on a deserving class of public servants who are excluded from joining in the coming festivities on Saturday and Monday next. I refer to the country postmasters, who are compelled to keep open, 'though for what earthly reason I cannot tell, as a/l business on those days will be practically suspended, and there will be absolutely .nothing to do. I am sure the public would not have lost anything if the Department had proclaimed one or both days a close holiday, and thus given them an opportunity of witnessing a spectacle that can only occur once in a lifetime. —I am, etc., FAIR PLAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is very gratifying to notice that a number of our principal retailers have not allowed themselves to be swayed, by the petty spirit dominating the Retail Traders’ Association in the matter of holidays in honour of our Royal visitors, but have risen superior to their surroundings. Their action in striking out an independent course for themselves, in spite of the adverse and miserable decision of the Retail Traders’ Association, was, under the circumstances, imperative, and their determination to close all day on Saturday and Monday, June 22 and 24 respectively,, com-

mends itself to everyone, and has universal approval. It is hoped the public will recognise the loyalty and liberality of these firms, and will mark their appreciation in a practical manner by refraining from making any purchases from those firms open on the Saturday. The principal retail shops will be open all day on Thursday, June 20, and will, we hope, do good business; at all events, it is to.be hoped, they will lose nothing for their, loyalty and well, timed generosity. For self and five hundred employees. —I am, etc., H.B.