SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 3

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin,—The business people in the country were only concerned in tho bill so far as tlio compulsory Saturday half-holiday was likely to affect them, as the hours of opening and closing, with the exception of tho 9 o'clock Saturday night, arc virtually tho same as those in tho bill, and if t.ho assistants do not got away sharp at 6 p.m. many of them have themselves to blame—especially those- who aro out with tho delivery carts, who put olf their timo gossiping with the- old ladies and flirting with tho young— in all innocence, I admit,—but a fact nevertheless that many of thorn will not deny. Tho fruiterers are on another plane, while tobaocouisls in tho strict souse of tho term are not to bo found in many of the upcountry; towns, their business being that ot an adjunct of the businesses of tho iruiterers and of the stationers. The term fruiterer, as applied to such shops in the country is a misnomer, as in nearly all of them, (lie standard brands of all packet teas aro to bo found, and other articles that you would only expect \p find in a grocery etoro, and to these muf, also be added cigarettes and cigaretta tobacco. There is also another point about tho fruit shops in at least two country districts with which I am acquainted that calls for passing notice, and that is tho fact that they are not carried on by able-bodied men, but in two cases by widows striving to. make a living for their families, two by daughters endeavouring to do tho same for themselves and their aged parents, and one- by a wife haying an invalid husband. They keep their own hours, and, although they sell such articles as I have enumerated, the feelings of all the business people in tho districts referred to towards those who are open when they aro closed, and who aro also running in opposition to them in many lines, are, I am aware, of the kindliest nature. What the effect of tho act would have keen in these and similar cases had its provisions been applicable to country districts ,your readers can easily imagine, as we may suppose that, as in tho cities lira principal business of the frultshope in tho country will be done in the evening hours.—l am, etc., November 18. Countryman,