The employers and employed who have joined the Shop Hours Labour League,1 recognising that their interests in the early closing of places of business are identical, and impressed with a conviction that a general closing of shops can never take place as long as a minority of traders insist on long hours, have come to the conclusion that compulsory legislation is the only solution to this difficult question, and that in the interest of the employers as much as in that of the employed. The object of the League is to arouse interest in the question amongst the public generally, to lay before them the arguments in favour of legislation, to establish a committee to obtain evidence on this subject, and having done this to authorise the committee to approach Parliament with a humble petition that a Parliamentary Committee may be appointed to confer with the Committee of the Shop 1 Shop Hours (compulsory closing) League, and Traders' Parliamentary Association. Is Labour League with a view drafting of a compulsory early closing been estiuimted that one thousa sacrificed minually in Lond to work, and that three thousan 1 op assistants go back ho to die. ΤΙ TOSS of life goes on unseen a unsuspected. If the loss were he Dne ur nd the sudden the public would be so horrified t to close their doors at reasonable ho. his happy result owing to the opposition of 明】 minority) is still far from having on tained, and if we take into consider the imber may well ot now a lar urs hops c at unreasonalde at when the Association first commenced its labours. any degree to reflect upon the admirable work which this Association has been the means of carrying on, but simply to show how gigantic and growing is the evil to be contended with, and how hopeless it is to think that it can be overcome by individual or private efforts, however powerful and energetic. It is common to hear of assistants who are kept at work for fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and even eighteen hours out of the twenty-four, and it has been ascertained on undoubted testimony, that female assistants at some refreshment bars are kept at work from seven a.m. till ten p.m., and from seven a.m. till one a.m. on alternate days, thus working one day fifteen hours, and the next eighteen hours out of the twenty-four. These remarks are not intended in It has been said by some that instead of seeking legislative aid the shop assistants should combine and strike against these excessive hours of labour. The Shop Hours Labour League is not of this opinion. It is for the single purpose of bring of shopkeepers and shop-assista in ther of long hours to the nation theblic, and theough publicity unds of Parliament in a lef and constional manner; but supposing, of the consequences, the question st stances of the case must answer. No. ply of shop-assistants, both male an far surpasses the demand: the places of th who struck would be instantly filled, and is dreadful to think what would be t fortunen anden who had the acts of much less does it approve of any intimidation or of an illegal nature. It looks upon all who break the law, or whose zeal has got the better of their discretion, as its worst enemies. I rejoice to hear that the young men who foolishly attempted the other day to 'boycott' a tradesman who had declined to join the Early Closing Movement were in no way associated with the League, and I trust that no hesitation will be shown in expelling any whose conduct might endanger the popularity and ultimate success of the cause. Legislation regulating the hours of labour of adults will not be obtained without a severe constitutional struggle, and we must be careful that no unnecessary difficulties are raised. There already exist precedents for the regulation of the hours of adult labour in the 'Act to amend the Law for regulating the hours of receiving and delivering goods and chattels in Pawnbrokers' Shops,' which was passed in 1846, and in the Acts for closing Public |