THE CLOSING OF SHOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9721, 17 January 1895, Page 3

THE CLOSING OF SHOPS.

TO THE EDITOR. Kindly allow me to express my fullest sympathy with the provisions of the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, which throws the responsibility of fixing the day upon a local conference. And disagreement with the advice tendered, that the Council should decline to appoint delegates and that Ministers should allow the Act to be

a dead letter. The tendency is to throw more work upon- the Municipal Councils throughout the empire. The acquisition of the tram service and gas supply is frequently urged, and some now advocate the Council running the liquor shops, so that I cannot see a good reason for th« Council declining to take the necessary; steps. Were it left to the Ministry to fix the day the probabilities are that it would mean the local political organisations. Certainly they are less capable, being mora partisan, than the conference as provided for by ths Bill. 1 think the conference should deal with the admittedly difficult; question in a judicial spirit, weighing well , the evidence submitted, bringing to bear their own personal knowledge, and decide accordingly. It is much to be regretted that any Justice of the Peace should use threats to a body of gentlemen who have onerous duties to perform; they were received at the time with smiles and laughter, and. doubtless were figures of speech merely. Certainly no conference should take the responsibility of ruin- ■ ing any set of business men. I have never heard anyone say that choosing Wednesday would at the most. Some claim it to bo less convenient than Saturday, while butchers, bakers, and dairymen state Saturday to be out of the question. Mr. Fowlds was correct in stating ab the meeting that the fixing of a definite day had the approval of the bulk of . the employers. It was necessary for business that :ome definite time should be fixed for the half-holiday. He also correctly attached considerable importance to the facb that 140 exempted tradesmen had pledged themselves' to close on Wednesday if thab day was chosen. It means to them that) day for a half-holiday or none, and most enjoy a holiday equally with any other section of the community.— am, etc., R. French. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Here are seven substantial reasons for the adoption of Wednesday as the half day for closing of shops :—l. No wages are regularly paid on that day. 2. The closing on Wednesday will produce only a minimum of disappointment to the purchasing public. 3. Those persons within a radius of ten miles of the city could leave their work only on Saturdays. 4. Because closing on Wednesdays could not hinder working men and others in leisurely accompanying their wives in their Saturday shopping. '5. Family economy and thrifb would be furthered by the adoption of Wednesday. 6. A weekly unwholesome excitement, as well as considerable dissipation, would be prevented. 7. Wednesday would be promotive of more private, quiet, and inexpensive recreation. In addition, ib may be noted that Saturday closing by townships has never been voluntarily chosen in the colony, but there have been numerous instances of either Wednesday or Thursday being adopted as the best period.—l am, etc., ' N.Z.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I agree with you that the local conference should throw the responsibility of fixing one day for the holiday on the Government, who have evidently beea afraid to do so. At present a bone of contention has been thrown to the local

bodies in which they must displease one section of the community, while we have some selfish persons threatening to oust those in the Council who presume to think or act differently to their particular views. Of course this is an empty boast, but it is a sample of the irritation set up by legislation which we could have afforded to do without. —I am, etc., Pro Bono Publico.