HOURS OF LABOUR [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sin,—If
it is true, as stated in The Spectator of March 24th, that the majority of shop workers do an average week of fifty-four working hours, it seems to me that that is all the more reason to bring other shops, that work longer hours, into line with them.
I myself was recently working in a fruiterers, and had to work a twelve-hour day including one and a half hours for meals, and a half-day of seven and a half hours without any break. My work, like that of a dozen or so others, consisted mainly of carrying about sacks and crates and of making deliveries of orders on a box tricycle. I doubt if this was an exceptional case, and it was certainly no less arduous than any normal factory work.
Unfortunately, I. failed to read Mr. Morgan Jones' recent Bill, but I agree most emphatically with The Spectator, that the present law shoidd be revised without delay. Especially so, since the ,shop owner is, owing to the present depression, in a very strong position to obtain the maximum hours from his workers who have small prospect of obtaining another job anywhere else.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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