The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-26 00:00:00

THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT:

- • -
Last evening the Liverpool Early dosing Association
held theirsfirst anniversary Stleetikg at the Concert-hall,
Lord Nelion-streets Thomas B.,Horsfall, Esq., M P.,
Presided on the occasion. The following gentlemen were
also present—The Revs. Poston Posen, J. S. Howson,
A.M., and V. M. White, LL.D. ; Messrs, Thomas Stam-
ford Raffles, Adam Hodgson, Joseph Iltibbaok,. F.' A.
Clint, George, Nickson, Clarke Aspinall ; Major
Walters, 4th L.V.A. , and several Other gentlenien, who
occupied the :platform ; and the body and the eilleriei
of the hall were filled with a large ,nsiniber:of tii% 'Work-
ing classes. Precisely at seven o'clock the above gen-
tlemen, With a iiiimber Of ethers, appeared upon the
Platfortii, and Were received with the Most hearty cheering.
T. B. PIoasPALL, Esq., upon taking the chair, was
greeted with the most enthusiastic cheering. He said
it was with the greatest pleasure he accepted the honour
of taking•the chair on-that ecoasion ; for_ although he
knew comparatively little of the details of the proceed:
jogs of the early closing movetheat, be *at- atiximis to
express "his most. cordial concurrence In i'rio 'great works
of social imprOseliient. *hi& 'Characterise the present
1:14Y. There had been, .he bad been told, some little
Misapprehension as to the objects of that association.
Be thought from that time forward; at 'toast, there
Would be no mistake? bCco.4s.el.ne had received, as lie had
Ilt.dnoubt all o4:ders had received, a circular, fully ex-
? 1 Lig the objects of the association. He would read
it to them. First, an abridgment of the hours of labour
iLlt all • departments: of industrial life, where necessary.
Secondly, the adOption of a Saturday half-holidays when
i•acti&able. Third, the early , payment' of Wages,
mirth, the abolition, of Sunday lrading "(liar, -
bear, and load cheers) With, regard tO the early
closing • of the -shoisi As it general principle, he
could not see 116* ttere could be any diversity of
Opinion, on that subject. (Cheers.) He did not mean
to Say that there might not be occasions when it might
be necessary to keep open shops and offices to a late
bar, but, as a general principle, there was no neces=
sity to keep up the late hours. (Cheers.) At the
same time they must acknowledge that during the last
thirty years very great improvements have taken place;
but they must still go on for making all the imp-tote-
Meats they could for the present time anti for future
generations. (Cheers.) The only exception he hid to
take to the proceedings of the committee—but which he
considered was a very little one—but still he mast' take.
the exception, because he did not like pledges S—he tans
not fond of giving pledges, but the edninlittee had
endeavoured to extract it pledge from the ladies not to
go shopping alter five o'clock. (Cheers.) He thought
that the much better course would be for them to invite
the ladies to work with them—not by the extraction of
a pledge. (Cheers.) He was one of those who had
extracted a pledge from a lady. (Laughter.) Many of,
those present, be had no doubt, had also extracted the
same pledge-(laughter)—and he hoped that' there
would be many more who would very .shortly
extract the same pledge. (Loud cheers and
laughter.) Well, as to the object, the early payntent of
Wages. There could be no dilterence of Opinion on that
points (Cheers.) It was most important to the *ork-
lhg classes that they should be paid their *Ages in good
time, that they Might make their phrehas'es in proper,
time. He really thought that it would be a great bene-
fit to all classes • if 'both the markets and shops closed at
an earlier-hour.' Cheers.) Thefe was another point
Which had, not been noticed by the committee, but which
k 0 had ad doubt had engaged their attention, which was
hot only most important to the working classes, but to
the whole community, and that was the earlier closing
of the public-houses. (Cheers.) The next object was
the Saturday half-holiday. There was no doubt but
this was a most desirable thing. Ile knew when he
was a school-boy how much he enjoyed the half-holi-
day on the Saturday, and he had rio,doubt that newt'
enjoynietili would:be felt by •the same relaxation in the
resent day by all. But he felt bound to say that, since
is meeting had been called, although he was in favour
it, there were some of the public who said. it -was
impracticable, and could not be carried out. ,He Would
say that there were occasions when working men' would
not require it. • For instance, When they worked at piece
Work. (Cheers.) Therefore) as a general principle, it
could not be adopted, ntor was it desirable that it
should, because many who were thus working *mild
prefer to work on the Saturday afternoon father than
loose earning their money, because they would be looking
after their own interests. On the next point there could
not be the slightest 'diversity of opinion—the abolishing
of the Sunday trading. (Cheers.), Now, during the last
session of Parliament, a bill was introduced into the
House of Lords and.was passed, and it -cattle doivn to the
House of Commons, and that bill went to legalise Sunday
trading. That bill sanctioned the trading in articles. That
bill was brought down to the Manse of ComtnonS, and he
thought it was his duty to ,gi've notice that it should be
read a second-tune that day sil months, which really
amounted to the fad that it should be rejeCted. The
persons who had the conducting Of ?fiat bill thought—
Without fighting it in the House, ‘.3oninions—to with-
draw the bills (Cheers) The bill itself was one of the
Most absurd that he liottd ever heard of. It was contended
that the spietion for' Saiiday trading had been recog-
nisei, because it had sanctioned the sale of certain
Otte es on the Sablsath, such as the necessaries of life,
milk and which were perishable articles, but in the
recently introduced the sale of. all kinds. of periodi-
cals was introduced ; but the most absurd clause of any,
omitting the 'sale of periodicals, was. that which gave
powers for the sale of stamps and envelopes; although
there is no post out of London on the Sunday, What-
ever could be mole' absurd or nionstrous.: • HoWever, if
a similar bill should be introduced at another time,
he should • most assuredly,. take the same course
as he did before) and move its rejection.' (Cheers:)
They were all aware that the report had been published
in all the newspapers, and he would only refer to one
point in it, the one ich he considered the most im-
portant. The great principle on which the association
Was founded was for the improvement of all. (Cheers)
Now,. why were they to have free public libraries, and
evening schools, if there was to be no opportunity given
to the masses to improve thenaselVes by such institutionaj,
(Cheers.) They had been toll that if parties were allow
the early Closing Movement, they would abuse the eon&
game that was placed in them. Such might be, the case,
bat upon *hem would the responsibility rest ? For his
bait 6 was n,ot, one of those who believed that the
*orkikig classes would abuse the confidence reposed in
them. (Cheers.) But the responsibility rested on each.
It the employers gave the half holiday, andthe employes
abused it, the responsibility tested with the employes :
but, if the employers did not grant their request, and
the employes could not obtain the information
they asked'for, then the blame would be on the: other
side. (Cheers.) He had, however, no doubt as to the
result. (Cheers.) Mr. Horsfall concluded, 'ainiclat much
cheering, by stating that the society had his full and
hearty support, and that he would do whatever he could
to promote its objects. (Applause.) He called upon
the secretary to read the report.
Mr. BREWER, the secretary, then read • a number
of letters of apology from gentlemen who had been
invited to attend the meeting, amongst Which was one
from Mr.. S. It. Graves, which was as follows
,:
Sra,—ln consequence of having to leave town, I am unable
to be present at the anniversary.meeting of the association this
evening: Concurring as I do in the' desirability of reducing
the hears of labour on the Saturdays, I. will be glad to assist,
by every means in my power, the Early Closing Association in
Promoting so important an object, At thus moment the
question is a serious one, for, as a Volunteer, I do not hesitate
to express my conviction that our. efficiency and permanency
hinges to a large extent on securing for drill the Saturday
afternoon, and I earnestly hope that means will be found for
ensuring • this object without encroaching, on the productive
Powers of the industrial masses of the, country.—l am, dear
sir, your obedient servant, S. It. GRAVES.
Charles Brewer, Sec. Early Closing Association.
Also letters from Mr: Adam Gladstone,. 34 Steains, J.
A. Picton, William Brown, .R. A. Macfie, and the Revs.
Dr. Hume, APNeile, Taylor, and Raffles, each 'of whom
expressed their cordial and earnest desire to give their
support to the association,' And regretted their inability
to attend from.various'causes. Letters 'of apology were
also read from The' Mayor, Messrs. Estill, W. Rathbone,
and 3. J. Stitt (who presented a donation of £5), and a
telegraphic inessage from J. R. Jeffery, each of whom
expressed his -inability to attend the meeting from
unavoidable -circumstances. •
The Secretary then read the first reports which has
already been, published, and needs ,not. a repetition.
The Rev. J. S. Howsois then moved "That this.
Meeting rejoices in the progress of .the early closing
movement, and earnestly urges the abstaining from late
shopping as necessary to insure futaire suecess." In
doing so he made a most impressive speech, and said
that there were only two classes of the community which
were recognised, the- one was the industrious and-hard-
working class, to ,which the chairman and himself be-
longed, and the-idle, dissolute, and vile class. None who.
were present, he believed, belonged to the latter class, or
they would not be there present. He assumed that the
association would fully carry out their Objects, and
advised that all' who should enjoy the relaxation of
those hours should spend their spare time in, 'improving
their minds in the study of natural history, and, what
was Of far more importance, the Word of God, by which'
all would be benefited. -
Mr. CLARKE, ASPINALL, in seconding the motion, by
his eloquence and his sarcasm created the greatest amount
of interest. There was not a sentence which he uttered
that was not applauded, and we only regret that our
space will not allow us to give his speech in full. But
under these circumstances we can only give a digest of
it, which was to the effect—that although not old, he
was_not young, and he could speak from experience;
and that was, that 'when be was an apprentice boy be
had to work from nine o'clock in the morning till nine
o'clock at night, and whatever they might say of physical
labour, he always had enough of it. He did not mean
to say that his profession was like many others, because
it was the driest, the dirtiest, and the most abominable of
any profession in the kingdom. But still hi had
his experience. For his part, be perfectly agreed with
the early closing movement. He thought it was right
both to. the master and to the man, and therefore he
had great pleasure in taking the course he had adopted.
Mr. Aspinall then humorously explained why he had
come forward on that occasion ; it was simply because
he felt it his duty after what he had suffered during his
own apprenticeship to limit the hours of labours.
(Cheers.) It was now his duty to refer to what had
taken place in reference to the closing of the markets.
There had been a great deal of noise about that, but he
for one had always stood out that the markets should
be closed even at an earlier hour than they were at pre-
sent. But what was the point ? , When he supported
the closing of the markets at ten o'clock—and he begged
to say that he had the honour of being a town coun-
cillor, (laughter)—he supported it because he thougt it
was right. Some of the town councillors thought
he was a young, rash, and inexperienced individual.
Let them think so. He knew his duty, and he had per-
formed it, because, from the first, he had voted in the
Town. Council that the markets should be closed at ten
instead of eleven o'clock. He knew that he had met with
every opposition ; but, notwithstanding that, he believed
that it would be for the benefit of all classes that it should
be carried out, There had been much said, because peti-
tions bad been sent in from the tenants of the markets ;
• but why was that done ? There was outside influence
in the shape of public houses. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
He did not think that that was any recommendation.
(Laughter.) But he believed that if the public was con-
sulted they would not for one moment entertain the idea
of keeping the markets open. He then went on to argue
that he had done his utmost in the Council to have the
markets closed at an early hour, but that the 'petitions
from the outsiders kept continually pouring in ; and
While at the first divisions of the Connell they had a large
majority in favour of the early closing movement,
from the agitation which had taken place, at the last
division there was only a-majority of.one, and.hewarned.
the ratepayers to be on the alert not to forbear agitating
this find question ; for if they did, they might
them-
selves in a minority of one instead of a majority of one.
He concluded by saying that, although he had spoken