Evening star., 1925-11-29
COmpromise Effected.

a
peace was restored.
Compromise Effected.
But many of the restrictions i'm
posed by Dora" met with the entire
approval of social reformers. as we'll
aS groups of greedy traders and leiS-
ure-seeking employees. so that when
peace was declared the entire lapse of
Dora" was regarded as "inadviSa BILE
and undesirable" The general public
insisted it was most desirable" hut
with the coalition system of govern
ment still in force Legislators Compro-
missed and met each others views by
partial relaXations. continuing such
legislative provisions as they could not
agree upon.
In the comparatively innocuous
shops. early closing. act. 1920" were
included number of "Dora's" little
annoyances which drive the public
crazy. Early closing" as n law was
never seriously opposed in pre- war
days. as the original act merely resu-
lated the hours of employment and
closing times of the big department
and other stores and insured their en-
n|oyeS halliday holiday weekly. sim
lar TO those in force in commercial
offices and factory alike.
But the Dora" version went A good
deal further and laid down definite
hours of closing for all kinds of stores
II was the independent and ''one-man"
stores that insisted on their right to
remain open till any hour thev chose
and it was the big stores which con
tended that ii would be unfair business
competition to allow other independent
concerns to sell articles in hours
closed TO them. The obvious Compro-
mise TO the legislators desirous of
avoiding lengthy session was to
make minor concessions, but to re
impose the general list of nOn-Sa ca BILE
articles within certain hours.
War Rule Still Effective.
As result, seven years after the
war BrltisherS find themselves unable
to purchase tobacco or cigarettes after
pm. They may not buy chocolates
alter s:3o pm. 'Perisha BILE" and
cooked foods may be sold until . or
10 pm, but canned goods cease to be
on sale after or pm. according to
localitfes). But the trouble is the def
milton of 'perishable" and cooked
foods" and this varies according to
the views of Storekeepers and the local
magistrate.
Lote shoppers find their choice of
foodstuffs strictly but variously reg
ulated. Canned fish and other deli
cacies may not be sold after pm. Il
pm. In some districts. hut a restau-
ranteur may serve canned Sardines
or praWns on toast as a meal" In
cidentally, a meal of this descrip
tion enables the eater TO purcha Sc
drinks, and even a single cigarette or
cigar after normal booze" and to-
haCCo hours
Early Closers Firm.
SO the list might be added to. and
II would not seem a difficult matter
to straiEhten out the anomalies, but
here the interested organizations ioin
issue. The Early Closing Association
IN behalf of store clerks. assistants
etc, strongly oppose store opening
after 7 or s pm. % or 10 on Satur-
days.. and the big employers insist
that If they have to close down it is
unfair to allow independents tor 9th
ers who would rather he open at diff
ferent hours) to sell produce Compet-
Ing with them.
Were British shopping controlled by
the big corporations there would be
little more 70 say on the subject. The
big corporations have adjusted their
prices, etc, to make their profits at
least equal to those of pre-war days
and they don't want any trouble with
their employees. But the great mass
oi independent StOrekeeperS are up in
arms and contend that they must be
given the right to sell what they
please in whatever hours they like
The general public objects TO the
present chaotic system because It
never knows what the regulations
may be in various districts. Also the
average citizen likes to do his shop
ping just when the mood strikes him.
and as long as there are stores open
70 supply his needs.
Machines Break Law.
The o'clock tobacco and 9: 80
chocolate limit is the most eXasperat-
Ing To Britishers and all sorts of
schemes for the evasion of the law
have been tried and are genera lly
recognized. Chocolate and cigarette
automatic machines are installed
everywhere. and the storekeepers will
always provide small change for
clients who wish to patroniZe these
use of automatons after hours.
One ingenious cigar store keeper in
LundOn's s theaterdom got around the
law by closing promptly at s pm.
and opening again at midnight for the
benefit of late theater and restaura Mt
patrons. He does an enormous trade.
hut il is not every store that is 50
faVora bly, situated
The suggestion by Home Secretary
10. that these YeXatiouS reStric-
tfons are 10 be continued has aroused
a torrent of protest and il is certain
that the government Will have to re-
consider its position. The EARLY
Closers" Will put up big fight but
II is doubtful if the Baldwin govern
'lent will court further unpopularity
BY continuing the restrictions in their
present form. The Baldwin govern
nent has got in bad with many sec
lions of the community and the pres
cnt opposition comes mainly from its
own supporters.