PORT CHALMERS DRAPERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3369, 22 November 1872, Page 3

PORT CHALMERS DRAPERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Silt—l was somewhat surprised one evening lasfc week, while walking through Port Chalmers, to find the drapers' shops open at the hour of 9 p.m., with not oven the shutters on the windows, or signs of closing. In such a quiet little spot as tho Port there is something strange in this. Surely ifc cannot be that the inhabitants of this little town are unable to attend to their wants at an earlier hour in the afternoon or evening. What can there be to prevent a thrifty housewife from having all her shopping done by at least? o'clock p.m. ? There are, of course, those who will never be done, and who are ever a trouble to the shopmen ; but it cannot be urged that these are wortli humouring, for the more indulgence they get the moro they expect No diligent housekeeper will, put off her purchases to so unreasonable an hour.

But, Sir, I speak for the sake of those who are doomed to that species of British slavery by the pernicious habit of late shopping-the assistants —who are compclle i to watt behind the dismal counter from morning until .that hour, for no reasonable purpose, but merely to supply the lazy taste of the slothful. If a young man has to stand in a shop from 8 a.in. till If p.m., for five days in the week, and till 0 p.m. on the sixth, what time can he have for either mental or physical exercise ? Seven, or half-past seven, is surely late enough for any person to be admitted into a shop, or for an assistant to bu kept bound to wait upon them. Hoping that the good P. C. people will act on this hint -I am, kc, Amut.'v.