EARLY CLOSING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8793, 1 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

TO TDK KDITOI!. Sin.-l'crmit me to congratulate the Drapers' Union o,i r.ho success which Ins already been achieved. It must have seemed the beginning of a new era to the employes of the George street establishments to be free at 0 o'clock last fvpninv inri the thought that it is not for a night but » regular and permanent imtitutlon, must be very cou.oliri" -&." &tTC *±fe until remedied will be a constant source of peri -a weakness and danger to tho newly adopted hours f course there are certain businesses that, owing to the perishable nature of the commodities, should always be exempt-such as fruit and confectionery shop?; but in these the hours could be regulated, as the business hours begin late In the morning, In nearly every other form of business there is no earthly reason why the premises should not, be closed at 6 o clock. Take the tobacconist, for instance. What reason can be u-ged for Ida remaining open r Ho may urge, " The convenience of my cm" tomersdemandsit." I say "Bosh!" It may not bo quite anelegant phiv.se, but it sums up briefly tho full hi,,! or Eueh a reason. A man may forget to go to b:d at a certain time, ho may for K ot his whisky, he may forget his friends, but forget his tobacco-

i-n- }lc, (Ir?1 oer is another man who would ba in a difficult place to give a satisfactory reason, beyond lonic usage, why he remains open after 6 o'clock. Others may beenumerated who would he In the same position But tho worst case tn deal or reason with Is the professed philanthropist who remains open for the public good, and In the especial interests of the Industrial artisans and the labouring masses, whose extraordinary long liours-from 8 to 5 usually, and 1 o clock on Saturday-preclude them from shopping before 6 o'clock; and yet this Is just the class to whose rmilih the Drapers' Assistants' Union gives free scope. There Is yet another class i i"?I? \ w, ord maybe sad -namely, those who have hitherto kept open Lite, Eometimes very much so. yet now, although excluded from the union, nevertheless unsolicited closed their establishments last night nt 0 o dock sharp. It is right, I think, to mention that Mr S. Jacobs (fancy goods warehouse) belongs to that clasc. There is a movement nmona the jewellers of Pr nee. and George streets tocloie at 2 o'clock on Saturdays, which h likely to be successful, and ought to glvo a fillip or Impetus to the early closing mwmont. All the principal shopkeepers, and many of the omaller ones, have agreed to close at this hour, ar,d are determined to do s.>. even if nil will not fall i n with the general movement. Th lo is really the spirit that ought to actuite men of bmineis. Our exhibition will bi very muoh in vain if it has not supplanted petty selfishness and er.vping greediness by a wi.ler spirit of generosity. The world is in the throe, of ft great revolution. Everywhere to tho confines of civilisation, men-aie surging against tho environment of long ages. Shorter hours and longer waoes Ib the cry, ana shall we in Dunedln lag behind ? Shall we alone, while studying by the thousand that very remarkable work of BdwaVd Bellamy," Looking Backward," not " realise man's highest ideal"? Harking back to practical politics, while complimenting the Draperß' Union on their success, I wonll still endeavour to impress, however unpleaßant 1 1 may b3, that they ought not to rest on their laurelß, but utilise their machinery and bring gentle, persuasive pressure to bear, reserving stronger measures for or in the event of gentle failure on all those shopkeepers whatever who keep open after 0 o'clock. —I am,&c, April 29, Fiebkiax.