THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5398, 6 March 1879, Page 3

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—The erocers* half-holiday has been a very short-lived affair, and it would ba well for them in iny future attempts of the kind to bear lo mind that in nil cases (fashions excepted) changes should be affected in such a way as to do the least violence to the established Rystetn. Now, jumping from 10 orll o'clock at night till 2 in the afternoon was too much of a change all at once Opening on Friday evenings wjsnogood. But if they hid made the first reduction to £, then to 6 o'clock, their efforts, in all probability, would have been successful. These late hours are nothing short of slavery- a slavery by which people's lives must bo materially shortened. Of course, in introducing any change of the kind, one or two cantankerous individuals will always be found in the trade—it matters not whether it refers to drapers, grocers, ironmongers, jewellers, or stationers; but ways and means might be found by whicb such stubborn wills might be made to bend for the benefit of their class as a whole. By-the-byo, Mr. Editor, did yon ever walk down Qaeen-streot about 8 o'clock in the morning, without noticing the quiet And listless manner in which shutters are taken from the shopwindows? At 6 o'clock, however, a complete change appears to come over these shutter manipulators. Everything is bustle and rjpldity of movement; so much so, that passers-by havo to keep a sharp lookout In order to escape sundry cracks on the head or pokes in the ribs. It is said that Scotchmen fight best with an empty stomach. I have often wondered if these shutterists are all Scotchmen, because their movements appear to bo much more active and vigorous before tea than just after breakfast.—l am, &c., Amicus. P.S.—As an instance of the short-time movement, 1 may mention that when I was a boy, some $0 (?) years age, the parsons used to give us two, three, and sometimes four hours right off the reel« The short* time movement, however, teduced their services to an hour and a-half, which was a great benefit to all WMfc® iuri bw«l feeing