CORRESPONDENCE,

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17655, 3 September 1919, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE,

THE LATE.NIGHT. ■

(To the Editor.)

Sir. —When reading "Shopkeeper's" letter ,in this morning's paper I could not help thinking what a miserable attempt he made trying to justify shops remaining open on Friday nights. He says Friday night's trade has never replaced Saturday nights. I say possibly his trade has not, but I should say no one is to blame for that but himself. I know of firms that will tell you that Friday night's v- trade is much better than Saturday night's. Of course I am referring to firms of business ability that have recognised Saturday as the standard half-holi-day and are not inclined to cry about it like "Shopkeeper." One thing your correspondent did not say was that Saturday «inorning's trade was two or three hundred per cent better than trade was on a Thursday morning when Thursday afternoon i was the recognised half-holiday; I would like to ask "Shopkeeper", a question: "If he wanted lib-of meat and knew all the shops closed at 5.30, what time would he purchase it?" I should imagine he would go to buy it some time before 5.30. The; same thing applies to practically all; the shops. "Shopkeeper" also saysi there are dozens of men in. this town who cannot get any other time to. do shopping than on a late night. L He would have been more correct j had he said "As long* as the shops j remain open there are dozens of men, etc." In saying that shopkeepers who. have cut *ut the late night are "breaking their necks" to make others follow suit, as "Citizen" said, the. most "impoi'tant" shops have closed, and.l say they do not care a "continental" for a busi- N ness run by a shopkeeper of your. correspondent's type. When he ,says you will add another twenty-five per? cent to the publicans' licenses, he is \ talking absolute nonsense, because j people must have their purchases! whether they make them at 9 o'clock ; in the morning or 5 o'clock at night. Ask any of the shopkeepers who have closed what-business, they have lost by closing and they will all tell you none whatever. Then again, "Shopkeeper" says employees are better working than walking in idleness. This conveys a very poor compliment tp the type of assistants in your correspondent's employ, and judging by his letter; they (his assistants) get very little encouragement to give their best to their employer. There was not any suggestion of boycotting as far as I could see in "Citizen's" letter, and I am of the same opinidn as "Citizen" when he said the firms that close are the ones that deserve public support. It is ridiculous for* any shopkeeper to say he remains open for the benefit* of the public; anybody with any sense. know,is that a business man keeps his doors open for his own personal gain, not for the public or his employees. I am, etc., ■ ' "COMMON SENSE.'?