The House of Commons on Wednesday crushed Sir J. Lubbock's
plan for shortening the hours of labour in shops, throwing it out by a vote of 278 to 95. Every London Member except one voted in the majority. Sir J. Lubbock's Bill closes all shops throughout England at 8 o'clock, except on Saturdays, when they are left open till 10 o'clock, and makes no exception in favour of men who employ no assistance. He, however, with singular want of logic, exempts all public- houses, refreshment-houses, places of amusement, and even tobacconists and newsvendors. In his speech, Sir John proved, what nobody ever doubted, that a large body of shop-assistants are worked nearly to death ; but he did not prove that they were not free agents. On the other hand, his opponents showed that the proposed restriction, besides being an undue interference with liberty, would seriously impair the comfort of the population,—especially working men and women, who are often not released till 8 p.m., and must buy at night or not at all. We cannot see where the answer to this argument can be. The shopkeepers would. be delighted to close early if they could, and so spare both their bodies and their gas ; and the reason they do not must• be that their customers wish to shop at night. Surely that is not a wish that the Legislature has a right to forbid. Suppose Parliament orders Sir John Lubbock, in the interest of his health and comfort, not to study accounts or make experi- ments on insects after midnight ? Or suppose it orders itself to go to bed at 11
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