The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-15 00:00:00

THE SHOP HOURS LABOUR LEAGUE.

On Sunday evening a demonstration, arranged by
the Lambeth branch of the Shop Hours Labour
League, was held at the Royal N ictoria Coffee Hall,
Waterloo-road, London, in support of the agitation
for the compulsory closing of shops and of the bill
introduced into the House of Commons in reference
to the subject by Sir John Lubbock, Bart. The chair
was taken by Mr. Mark Judge. Mr. Morley Alderson
announced the receipt of several letters of apology for
non-attendance or of sympathy with the movement
from the following amongst others—Lord Brabazon,
Lord G. Hamilton, M.P., Mr. T. Burt, M.P., )11r. J.
Howard. M.P., Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., Mr.
E. Clarke, Q.C., M.P., Professor Thoroid Rogers,
M.P., Mr. S. Smith, M.P., Sir A. Borthwick, the
Duke of Hamilton, and Lord Randolph Churchill.
M.P. The Chairman, in his opening address,
expressed his sympathy with the general
objects of the meetipg, though he would
candidly tell them that he did not go as far
as the league advocated. With the provisions of
the bill before Parliament regarding young people
under 18 years of age he was in thorough accord.
believing that the State should help those who could
not help themselves, and people under that age might
well be placed in the category of such. He enter-
tained the opinion, at the same time, in respect to
those of maturer years that State interference would
be a mistake. To have the police, so to say, come to
put up one's shop shutters was going a distance the
length of which he would not travel. The Rev. Cope-
land Bowie moved the first resolution: "This meet-
ing considers the long hours of labour—being from
seventy-five to ninety hours per week—the inadequNt
time allowed for meals and rest, the long standing and
physical hardships to which the majority of shop-
keepers and assistants are subjected, to be ruinous
to their health and general welfare, to be
absolutely unnecessary and detrimental to the
true interests of the State, an that every legitimate
means should be adoped to obtain a general earlier
closing of shops. This meeting also considers that
shop assistants should have regular and suffi-
cient times allowed for meals and rest, a weekly
half-holiday, and reasonable hours on every day of
the week, in accordance, so far, with the plan for the
protection of the health of shop assistants. Th;a
meeting likewise pledges itself to carry on the agita-
tion with zeal until the working hours for shop assist-
ants are so curtailed as to be in harmony with those
of other classes, and further pledges itself to discon-
tinue Sunday meetings as soon as the hours of shop
labour are so reduced as to allow meetings to be held
at a reasonable time during the week, the present
sfstem being adopted merely as a temporary but in-
dispensable expedient." Mr. George Elliott seconded
the motion, which, on being put from the chair, was
declared unanimously carried. Mr. Charles Williams
(employer) moved the second resolution, pledging the
meeting to earnestly support the bill now before
Parliament. Mr. Donaldson (employer) seconded
the motion, which was supported by Mr. Stimson,
Mr. j. Sayers (assistant), Mr. Hillier (a trades'
unionist), Mr. .T. Tunstall (assistant), and approved
of without dissent.