EARLY CLOSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8272, 3 June 1890, Page 5

EARLY CLOSING.

THREATS OF COERCION.

THE EMPLOYERS' VIEWS. A meeting of master drapers was held yesterday afternoon in Robson's Rooms, Queen-street. There were present:— Messrs. Fowlds, Bennett, Ford, Beohan, McLachlan, Shackelford, Fenton, Caughey, Court, and Morrison.

Mr. G. Fowlds took the chair, and exElained that the meeting had been convened ecause of the expression of the intention of some of the adherents of the early closing movement to have him boycotted because he did not close. He was quite willing to close if the movement was unanimous, but he would be simply ruining himself if he shut up and allowed his customers to shop in the suburbs and bye-streets. The assistants had got the Queen-street shops to close early, and were now trying to secure from them a half holiday on Saturday afternoon, but if the assistants in the big shops got their holiday, he did not think it likely that they would take much trouble to see that the suburban premises were closed also. He himself could not close on Saturday afternoon unless all without exception did so, as fully one-fourth of his entire week's business was done after two p.m. on Saturday.

Mr. Shackelford said that there wore three or four important questions that required to be answered in connection with this demand for a Saturday half-holiday. They were:—l. Is it advisable that the Queen-street establishments should close on Saturdays at two o'clock without regard to the suburban shops ? 2. Is it likely that the suburban drapers, etc., will close, after the Queen-street drapers have closed, if they (the former) have not joined tho six o'clock movement ? Is it possible to obtain unanimity amongst the Queen-street firms, and if not are wo to allow undue pressure to be put upon any member of the trade whose class of business will not admit of his closing? He was afraid that all these must be answered in the negative. Mr. J. M. that he was in favour of the matter being settled by legislation, and they would then, and then only, get unanimity. He would not close until he was assured all would do the same, though he was a strong sympathiser with trades unions and their objects. If any one was sure that an attempt was being made to boycott him, he (Mr. McLachlan) would be willing to resist any attempt at coercion.

Mr. Caothey said that his firm had been the first to sign the agreement to close early, and he had contemplated doing so even before the assistants took the matter up. Any loss of trade he considered would be only temporary. He sympathised with anyone boycotted, and had assured the Secretary of the Early Closing Association that if any attempts were made in that direction, he would withdraw from the agreement.

Mr. Shackelford pointed out that Saturday afternoon was the only spare time the workingman had to purchase, and he had his money that day. Of his firm's trade, one-third of the week's business was done on Saturday, and two-thirds of that after two m.

Mr. Beehan was of opinion that any monetary loss was small compared to the gain in health and enjoyment by a halfholiday. He considered that the assistants had been open and fair in their actions. Ho, as an employer, wished to work in accord with the assistants, and at last get legislation to compel all to close. It was clear, if their righteous domands were refused, an amalgamation of the labour organisations would be raised against the masters, and that meant a great power.

Mr. Bennett wished it to be clearly understood thab the Queen-street tradesmen were anxious and willing to close at two p.m. on Saturday, butthoy thought it unfair that the shops in side streets and suburbs should do business while they were closed, and they would hold out strongly against such a partial system.

Mr. Fowlds endorsed these remarks about the shops in side streets, and remarked that hie might juat as well close his Quoon-street entrance and keep open in Fort-street, as be compelled to close while others in side streets were open. Ho would ask the meeting to pass a resolution to the following effect, and all present sign it, and forward a copy to the Early Closing Association :—" We, the undersigned, having met and considered the question of a Saturday half holiday, and the means being adopted to secure unanimity in its favour, are of opinion that it is unwise to attempt closing in Queen-street while the rest of the city and suburbs remain open, and that the attempt being made to coerce the Queen-street shopkeepers to close at two p.m. on Saturdays is manifestly unjust, and therefore we cannot countenance it in any way, and those, of us who signed the memorial in its favour ' if unanimous ' hereby withdraw our support, but will support it if made to extend to the suburbs.' - _ One or two of those present objecting to sio-n on the score of inconsistency, Mr. Fowr.us withdrew his proposition. Mr. Ford said that they had now been closed early for six months in Queen-street, and why had the assistants made no attempt at coercion in, say, Karangahape Road, where nearly all the shops were open. Mr. Bf.ehan* suggested that a more representative meeting should bo got, and moved for an adjournment. It was eventually agreed to endeavour to get all the trade [together at a meeting to be held on Wednesday forenoon next.