The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-16


white merchants in Honolulu should
have their business hours extended
from the present closing time of five
o clock until later has not met with
any burst of enthusiasm from either the
storekeepers or the clerks, although no
more objected to by one class than the
other. The mail carrier and special
messengers brought numerous letters to
The Advertiser on the subject, some of
which are given below.
G.. B. Curtis, writes from the stand
point of an employer. He says:
Editor Advertiser:-I read with much
interest in your paper Of even date, the
suggestion of Mr.. Geo. w. Smith to
bring before the merchants association
the advisability of having stores remain
open late at night. Also the comments
thereon in the leader by your good self.
With your kind permission l would
like to take up this matter from the
other side So far as Mr.. Smith is
concerned it is well known that he has
the welfare of the merchants at heart
and has done great deal to advance
the interests of the merchants asso'
citation.
But is there as much business going
to the oriental part of town as Mr..
Smith thinks there isl
Take the white stores that keep open
and have kept open right along on Sat
urday nights. While probably they are
all doing a much bigger trade than
ever before, / don't believe the trade
on Saturday nights is more than haif
what it was four years ago. This is
accounted for by the fact that moving
pictures and other attractions take the
attention of people who used to shop
on Saturday nights. You say, Mr.. Edl'
tor that "the suggestion to keep open
will meet with general approval" This
I doubt very much. 1t is not practical
to all lines Of business to work the
employees on shifts and / don 7 believe
the merchants of Honolulu will require
their employees to work longer hours in
tropical climate like ours. You say
the stores should remain open during
modern shopping hours. There is moth
ing modern about extending the hours
of labor.
Twenty years ago in California the
stores remained open until nine or ten
clock. Now they close at five and
no later than six 'clock.
Long hours as late as ten clock was
the custom elsewhere until legislation
was brought to bear and compulsory
early closing was adopted with the re
suit the merchant did just as much
business and the employee was better
able to perform his duties.
: The modern idea Is to do as much
n business in as little time as possible
r The employe who has the interest OF
the employer at heart welcomes just
as much as the merchant the additional
i trade of the "Boy at Leilehua,' a:
= you call him, and feels sure that il
5 proper representations were made to the
S gallant officers in charge of the variou.
}. forts that ample time would be allowed
: the men to get their supplies in day
n light.
e l feel certain also that most of the
{ boys, if they realized that by trading
: with orientals they were causing white
;, people to work unnecessary long hours
b they too would do their utmost to make
/. their purchases between eight and five
. clock.
The white merchant has nothing t.
). fear from the oriental other than thu
n catch penny after hours. If we car
4 not compel the oriental to come "
. to our ideas let us not get down to his
Q The only benefit that can arrive by thu
I. remaining open of stores at night woulC
e be to the electric company for light
t and to the medical profession by in
/. crease of patients in the shape of sick
+. ly clerks.
q We have occasionally to work a
n night and we know what it means her,
v if we compel our employees to do it a
y regular thing.
:, Let us get together and try mora
suasion in this matter. "Do unit,
. others as you would have them do unit
= you"
u Prevail upon our landlady not to bu,
!, her groceries from the oriental unles
u he recognizes the white man Is hour
:. of doing business.
If the good folks of Honolulu will
stop to think little there will be nj
occasion to remain open at night. Lonl
hours in this country can have only on,
> result, viz; physical wrecks of you
: help in short order, and young men anC
, women employees old before their time
Thanking you for your valuable space
!. | am, yours,
G. B. CURTIS.
~