THE YOUNG MEN'S EARLY CLOSING ASSOCIATION,
And a Provisional Committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Peter Virtue, T. H. Lightfoot, H. and J. Kerr, J. A. Marsden, J. Morris, B. Coslin, J. Lush, N . Kinsman, T. Moubray, Bridge, and Jarrett. T h e movement secured some influential sympathizers, and on the 2nd October the election of the following office-bearers took place:—Mr. AATtliam Nicholson (the Mayor) accepted the Presidency. Messrs. William AVilliamson and Robert Campbell, Vice-Presidents; Messrs. T h o m a s Moubray and A. M'Callum, Auditors; Mr. T. Lightfoot, Treasurer ; M r . R. G. Benson, Secretary, at a salary of £ 1 0 per annum. The principal shopkeepers pledged themselves to close their places of business at seven p.m., except on Saturdays, so long as they found it " conducive to the yvell being of those they had in their employ." For some time the majority of the retailers scrupulously kept their word, but as anything like durable unanimity became hopeless, the praiseworthy object was frustrated, as it has often been since, and will continue so, until the Legislature shall think proper to interpose, and render Early Closing compulsory.[1] It is difficult to apply Parliamentary action to a social subject of this kind, but nothing will ever be permanently effected without it. A n Early Closing Movement dependent solely upon voluntary effort seems to m e a continuous impossibility, because absolute unanimity is so essential, and so difficult—not to obtain, but to keep. This is the weak point, and so long as it remains unremedied the movement resembles a chain made of strong links, yvith an unsound one here and there, which may snap at any moment.
BUILDING SOCIETIES.
Through the agency of Mr. J. F. L. Foster, one of the Provincial Members of the Legislature of N e w South AVales, there was passed in September, 1847, an Act of Council for the Regulation of Benefit Building Societies in N e w South AVales. T h e system had been found to work well in England, and one had been already established in Adelaide. A preliminary meeting was convened at Anderson's Commercial Lnn, Collins Street East, on the 27th September, to consider the measure as applicable to the T o w n of Melbourne. M r . AVilliam Clarke, H o n . Secretary and T o w n Councillor, officiated as Chairman. T h e expediency of starting a Building Society was determined on, and initiated under the designation of the Melbourne Building Society, the shares to be £ 1 2 0 each; the payments, 5s. entrance per share, ios. monthly subscription, with 6s. per month redemption fee on borrowed shares. A committee, consisting of Messrs. AVilliam Clarke, AVilliam Nicholson, C. Laing, J. C. King, L. Rostron, N. Guthridge, J. J. Peers, J. A. AVebster, AVm. Thacker, and AVm. O'Farrell, was appointed to prepare the necessary rules, and report to a future meeting. In a few days there yvere fifty-two enrolled members, and at a meeting held the following week the rules were approved and transmitted to the Attorney-General at Sydney. T h e following Board of Management was also elected :-President, Mr. William Clarke ; Trustees, Messrs. J. C. King, L Rostron J. T. Smith, J. A. Marsden, AV. H . Buckley; Treasurer, Mr. Charles Vaughan ; Stewards, Messrs. C J Mills'and John H o o d ; Committee, Messrs. AV. Nicholson, J. J. Peers, N. Guthridge, A. J. AVebster, Henry Crossley, James Barwick, J. AVebb, John Bland, and John Bullen ; Surveyor, Mr. Charles Laing ; Solicitor, Mr. J. Bowler ; Secretary, Mr. Charles C. Dunn. This Society so far succeeded that three others followed in quick succession, and in 1849 one was started at Geelong.
In January 1850 M r . E d m u n d Ashley conceived a design of establishing an undertaking of a somewhat analagous nature, excepting that instead of putting people in their own houses its object was to place them on their land. Mentioning his intention to Mr. J. P. Fawkner, the latter rapidly jumped the notion, m a d e it his own, and forthwith launched it. It was called the Co-operative Land Society, and Fawkner stuck so well to the work that, in a year, some £ 6 o o o had been subscribed and invested. The shareholders were so well pleased with Mr. Fawkner's exertions that they procured from England a handsome silver service as a presentation to their benefactor. It consisted of tea-kettle and lamp complete (weighing 82 ozs.), with coffee and tea pots, cream ewer and sugar basm, and what certainly was
- ↑ The Factories and Shops Act 1887 has become law since the above was written, and ostensibly grants some of the privileges so ardently longed for by the author.—Ed.
