The Shan Hours' Bill.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4715, 5 August 1893, Page 5

The Shan Hours' Bill.

TO TH» BDITOB. Siß,-*-*-lPully expecting to hear the above question discussed .with the object of arriving at a satisfactory solution thereof, as it now stands and affects the interest of the Chriatohnrch shopkeepers, I attended the meeting held last night at the Corn Exchange. I must say that I was very j much disappointed. Past events in the history of the Shop Honrs' movement, \ since the first introduction of the halfholiday, olearly show that some com? j pulsory legislation is required to meet ; the spirit of competition and jealousy which shows itself at every turn. When the question of dosing on Saturday ! afternoon was almost unanimously decided upon, a few of the shopkeepers took advantage of the position, and persisted in opening their Bhops to .the detriment of the many who had agreed to close. This called forth from the shopkeepers, many of whom were prp-ninent in last night's ! meeting, an expression of opinion that the ! question would never be satisfactorily settled until legislation, was brought to bear infixing a day. The action and tone of the speakers last night olearly show the part thoy played in the . half-holiday movement to have been insincere. Only the pressure of public opinion oaused them to show a semblance of falling in with'{hp movement. The nonsense uttered by the Chairman of last night's meeting in paying "Why should shopkeepers as a oJasa be seleoted for suoh tyrannical legislation P" must be its own condemnation, when, as a matter of faot, the said shopkeepers are the only employers of labour at present exempt from legislation in the interests pf their employees. Bather, I think, the question, "Why should this be so?" arises. Now, Bir, I take it that the matter has now reached a stage at which tbe resolutions passed last night will have no effeot. The question now is, whioh in the interests of all, employees, shopkeepers and purchasers, is the moßt suitable day whereon to olose. Undoubtedly, for the first named, for the benefit of whom the Bill has been introduced, Saturday is unanimously held as the most suitable day - it is then that the week's work is finished, and the break in the thread of business whioh exists under present conditions io avoided. All the wholesale merohants, Banks, and Government offioes are closed, and I contend that until better and sounder arguments are brought forward against it, the opposition, as expressed at last night's meeting, should carry the little weight with the members of Parliament it deserves. — I am, &0., SHOPKEEEEB.