*THE
WORKER*
BRISBANE
APRIL 27, 1895.
The
Traders and Early Closing.
The
Brisbane Traders Association, which comprises a small percentage of
the shopkeepers of Brisbane, are of opinion that it is not advisable
to legislate for early closing until the failure or success of the
New Zealand Act is an accomplished fact, and this, they contend,
cannot be known until the early closing law in that country has one
year's trial. The Victorian Act, they say, has proved a failure. With
this statement I am not prepared to quarrel. The bastard shops
legislation of Victoria was never meant to be successful. The
administration of it was placed in the hands of the municipal
councils, which are largely composed of shopkeepers, landlords, and
the representatives of capitalists-the very persons on whose
interests the law was sure to operate. This fact alone was sufficient
to kill any good there may have been in the Act.
*
* *
I
would not like to say that the shopkeepers who compose the Trader's
Association are simply trying the throw dust in the eyes of the shop
employe's by reasons they adduce for asking to postpone the passing
of such necessary legislation as an Early Closing Bill; but to those
who know the little tricks of the employers who are always so good
and benevolent when their interests are not going to be effected, the
advice of the traders, I would recommend, should be taken by those
who have so long agitated for early closing legislation with the
proverbial grain of salt.
*
* *
The
good result of progressive legislation in New Zealand or other
colonies, or Australasia, has never induced the employing class to
urge that the same should be applied in this colony. Take the
Factories Act, Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the Workmen's Wages
Act, the Contractors and Workmen's Lien Act, the Shipping and
Seamen's Act, and several other Acts passed in New Zealand to benefit
the wage-earners. How many of these very necessary measures that we
so badly require in Queensland is ever advocated by the employers of
Queensland? Not one. Why, the mere mention in Parliament of such
raises the indignation and opposition of the employers' delegation in
the House.
*
* *
No,
gentlemen of the Traders' Association, your reasons are too flimsy.
You do not now attempt to dispute the necessity of legislative
enactment to deal with the evil of the long hour system in our retail
shops, but you ask for time, praying, fervently praying, that
compulsory closing in New Zealand may prove a failure. You then would
be enabled to support Attorney-General Byrnes in his bitter
opposition to a measure that would help to make the lives of many of
our young men and women healthy and happy.
*
* *
If
there is need for shops' legislation in New Zealand with its cool and
invigorating climate – as is fully recognised by the legislature of
that country-surely the traders will not dispute that there is much
greater need in Queensland where the climate is so distressing and
trying to those who have to work in close shops amidst the artificial
heat and fumes of the gas, and where the death rate is nearly 50% per
cent higher than in New Zealand.
*
* *
In
New Zealand the half holiday law is in operation in 82 cities and
boroughs, and from an official report I find that this law, which
effects several thousand shops, including the crafty, cunning
Chinaman, during the whole month of February there were only 56
breaches of the law in all New Zealand.
*
* *
I
regret the traders have taken up such a position. Better, far better,
would it be to accept the generous invitation of the Shop Assistants'
Association and help in having the question settled during the coming
session. In any case early closing, like factory legislation, cannot
be delayed. If Nelson and his party will not make a move this
session, let the Labour Party take the question up, and by forcing it
to the front they will not only earn the thanks of the shop
assistants and shop keepers, but all who believe in healthy lives for
this as well as for future generations.
FERGUS.
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