The Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1890. Boycotting Shopkeepers.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6831, 19 April 1890, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1890. Boycotting Shopkeepers.

The controversy which is going on with regard to the early closing movement, shows that there is by no means unanimity amongst shopkeepers aa to tbe feasibility of the programme put forth by the Association. The public meeting of Tuesday last is to be followed by another on next Tuesday, to be held in Sydenham. This is undoubtedly the proper course of action for the Association to take. By all fair means let them endeavour to make converts from the ranks of the shopkeepers, and to educate the public from the bad habit of late shopping. No means can be fairer than the holding of public meetingsi provided always that opportunity is given for temperate discussion of any difficulties that those mora immediately affected may suggest. Another perfectly fair means is the publication of argumentative and pithy letters in the newspapers, provided that no personalities are introduced into the correspondence. There is another meansj however, which can hardly be considered to be as equally free from objection as those mentioned above. We mean the boycotting of those establishments which do not at once conform to the desired regulations. Boycotting is an extreme measure justifiable only when all other means have been tried, and have failed, It is hoped that the public will abstain from shopping after the hours fixed by the Association. This may be considered, to a certain extent as boycotting those shops which keep open in the evenings. But this is not what wt mean. In the exuberance of spirits caused bj the apparently rapid success of the movement, some of the leaders have hinted at a boycotting, during the dajtime, of thost establishments which fail to close at night This is an extreme measure, which savourt too much of Lynch law and mob tyrannj to commend itself to those who look calmlj at the whole matter. The proposal musl engender a bitter feeling in the minds oi those who cannot nt present see their waj to join the ranks of the Association, anc must tend to alienate the sympathies o: those of the public who are perhaps onlj half disposed to favour the reform. Th( family motto of His Excellency the Governor, " Festina lente," might well be adopted by the Association. Precipitancy on their part may frustrate all their efforts Above all things, let them avoid anj appearance of a wish to persecute anc annoy tho&e whom they are trying t( convert.