THE EARLY-CLOSING MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5554, 16 January 1879, Page 2

THE EARLY-CLOSING MOVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES.

Sir., —A statement appeared to-day in an evening paper of this city reflecting on the conduct of a certain firm in respect to the early-closing movement. We have reason to believe we are the firm referred to, and beg to lay the following explanation of our action before the public, if you will grant us space in your columns :—When the deputation first called upon us we listened to their proposals, and replied that we had thought the matter over, as we anticipated being called upon, and we had come to the conclusion not to agree to close on Wednesday, but that we were willing to close at 2 p.m. on each Saturday. We stated our reasons, the principal one being that all amelioration in this direction all over the world tends towards the Saturday half-holi-day. Already in this city many places of business, such as banks, warehouses of all kinds, public offices, law offices, agents of all kinds, ironmongers, &c., with one exception, jewellers and a portion of many other trades, close early on Saturdays ; consequently the public mind is gradually being educated not to shop on Saturday, and it is more or less, according to circumstances, becoming the plan to close on Saturday, to look forward and to work for the Saturday, and to hope that the time is not far distant when the public will discontinue late Saturday shopping. We mentioned this to the deputation. We also said, and wo say it again, that late shopping was chiefly perpetuated by the operative class, often for their amusement. The entire body of them strike work about midday on Saturday, and if they had the same consideration for others that they demand for themselves the Saturday half holiday would become a fact and a blessing to every trade and occnpation. For many years we have been identified with early closing, and if two or even one of our neighbors will consent we are willing to close early on Saturday, and thus show an example to the trade. We were asked if in the event of all the others agreeing would we close on Wednesday ? Our answer was emphatically no, and on each of the two successive calls the deputation made our answer was the same—that we were willing to consent for Saturday, but not for Wednesday, as we have a large country connection to Study. The subject is socially a most important one, and that is our excuse in seeking insertion for this.—We are, &c., Wilson and Richardson.