HOURS OF BUSINESS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
28th Third Month, 1843.
RESPECTED FRIEND—In reading the remarks of the Spectator on the subject of " Preventives of Excessive Labour," I thought of one class of the community whose business-hours, protracted to an unnecessary length, might be abridged without loss to their employers or inconvenience to the public ; I allude to the shopkeepers' assistants. Yet I fear that nothing will be effec- tually done till the shopkeepers themselves begin the work of reformation. But the interests of the employers and the employed are different : the latter have no voice or influence in a question which concerns them so deeply ; while the former are indifferent to the subject, or fearful their interests might suffer from any innovation upon established usages; and thus the evil is perpetuated. We find in many towns, that the tradesmen take a leading part in the exten- sion of education, the formation of mechanics' institutions, and other sources of intellectual gratification for young men ; and they not unfrequently complain that these institutions are not adequately supported by the classes for whom they are principally designed : but it is useless to shut the door, and then in- vite the inmates to walk out! Abridge the number of hours devoted to busi- ness, and then these institutions will be better supported. Under present cir- cumstances, it is of little avail for a young man to become a member DELI, mechanics' institution; for what time has he to read the hooka, or attend the lectures ?
The interest evinced by the Spectator in the progress of social improvement, is a sufficient pledge that a "word in season" till not be withheld when cal- culated to forward the end in view. I will therefore not extend these obser- vations further than to remark, that should public attention be turned to the subject, so that a relaxation of the present system of long hours be eventually obtained, it will be hailed as "an inestimable boon" by the numerous body, of whose claims the writer of this is but an humble and imperfect advocate.
[The writer says truly that the shopkeepers mast begin the important re- form he desires. But the assistants can do something to induce them to begin. In the large and populous city of Glasgow, a considerable reform has really been accomplished : the hours of business of the grocers and some other trades have been shortened. A. few of the assistants associated for this purpose ; they invited and obtained-the cooperation of one or two s.opkeepers friendly to their object ; they solicited the assistance of influential Customers; and by i Steady perseverance, n the course of a year or so they got the trade to adopt resolution in favour of short hours, which has been observed since. During last summer, the booksellers of the same town regularly closed their shops on the Saturday afternoons at two o'clock : this was brought shoat by annilar means. It would be worth while for London shopkeepere-assistants to try whether they cannot by the aid of friendly shopkeepers, patrons of mechanics' institutions, &c., accomplish their object. We are hostile to long hours of business, though sceptical as to the power of legislation to shot ten them.—En.]
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