IS BOYCOTTING LEGITIMATE?

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 35, 12 February 1890, Page 2

IS BOYCOTTING LEGITIMATE?

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Probably no word has been made a greater" bogey of than the name of that unlucky Irish landlord whose cognomen has found its way into fche Eng-lisb dictionary. The word "boycott" is new; the practice is as old as humanity. There is scarcely a relation in life in which boycotting in one form or another is not practised. Nature inculcates it, and pious parents enforce the lesson aa a high moral duty. In infancy we are cautioned to avoid —in other words to boycott—anything that is injurious. As boye we are warned to boycott evil companions and vicious practices, and society takeß the came means to protect itself from unworthy

members. To give or withhold our custom or our friendship is right or wrong juat in the degree that a good man's conscience commends or disapproves of the conducb which would be encouraged by our countenance or support. Viewed in this way, not only is boycotting; legitimate, but it uecomcß a duty morally incumbent upon us as honest men, whenever we feel that by our acts a wrong is supported and encouraged. Let us apply theeo principles to early closing—the latest, cause in which it is de' sired that the boycott shall bo»applied. It is notorious, that young giris are being kept in virtual slavery in a nun> tier of shops in this city, work' ing from twelve to fourteen hours a day, and then having to walk in many in* stances long distances afc night. Any man or woman who think* at all knows that a trreat wrong is being inflicted upon theae assistants — that

fch,e few shillings which they eara is blood money, wrung from them by stern necessity, at a sacrifice of 'their phyejeal, and often alas their moral stamina —for late hours on tho^streets axe not good for either girls or young men. Well, then, what is the moral responsibility of those persons who, by thoir Inconsiderate and selfish conduct, leave their shopping till"an bam: which itivolvoa these exactions from their fellow-creatures ? Clearly they aro culpable if they p«rai«tin theirconduct when tho mischief which it cauaea is pointed out to the;m. As Christians they ar« bound to cease shopping at. those late hours —in other words to " boycott " late shops. But doe? Choir doby end here ? Assuredly not. They must deal with the question as practical reformer*. They know BQv-fectJy well that a majority of the employers are not willing participators in the practice, but are veajly among ite victims. They are well aware that in every, movement there will be a few who, either from honest conviction or selfish motive, ib is im.mate.lla! which, will dwaent from the inajjorifcy ; they know that owing-to-the, keenness of competition t"aderß aro. not free agents, and that they cajroot afford to allow business rivals to gain any unfair advantage over them. Aware of all this, what real dittaronee is there between giving their money to support a late shop irv tke earlier, trading hours, and giving it Hit tbft later, hours <?f tha day ? Really very little, practically, top either course will inevitably result in riveting Qn.ce more the chains, of slavery, which are now partially brelveiu upon employers and assistants. Customers know thaji perfectly well. Indeed, fche few ponea, which they may perhaps save at a late shop is very probably the. ■ blood money of employees who havo been compelled to work fourteen hours instead of nine. Therefore if it be a duty to discountenance this- practice at all, it is equally a. duty to discountenance it altoge.c.hei\ by. refraining from giving patronage to any establishment where it i# in vogue. iJul. Ib uiay be objected theve in nothing contrary to morality, per xc, in keeping a ■shop open after seven, or in shopping alter thai} hour. In many instances, the «hopkevper resides on the. premises, and ha.^'ai family, and it does nob eufc«ii any hard- j sliipon anyone for him to attend to cub- ' totnerp. In other evert, a shopkeeper may j arrange hi;; business in shifts so that iso one is over-worked. Justb so. I don't be- \ Have, in tbo niamuaoture of arti.fi- | cial sins-, and don't pretend to cay j that a man may not conscientiously I practice and deiend labe shopping. It is a matter of private judgment and conscience, and if he cannot ttx> any evil result from it, I he occupies % diilerent position from the; class I have been, refer ring*©, who do believe j the eys»tom in productive of serious evil, and who, therefore* are. morally bound to discountenance, it. I only ask those who I have considered tlua question and aro still j unconverted to the principle oi early cjos-! iug to make, quite sure tha& fcbeir j.udgroeut) i is not being blinded by self-interest. But iv dealing with this question of the legitimacy of boycotting, I think we may i put it on a strictly basinoss ground. The j trader who keeps open late does so i simply because no believes- the number J of people among his customers who are | indiHeient to tho question ol: early closing exceeds the number of those who would like to s^eo him join in the genera! move- j merit. Very weii, he looks upon ib from a : business ataudpoint ; why should the cus- ! tomer be debarred from tha s-amo privilege. I He chooses to give his auppori exclusively! to those shops which, represent Ida own j particular views ; is tiny money which ;

he spends? nob hia own, to do with it. as he pleases ? The rrar!e°in.'in who stakes hi* trade H-pr.ft late shoppers - ought to counc upon the loss ot the custom of those who disbelieve in late shopping, or else he nmsthoM his customers in rontcinpt as intellectual jaUy-lishes without backbone or settled ojiinion upon an imporUiot question of eooiul uaaije.

I take it, therefore, that from whatever standpoint we look at it, men and women who *-«ke an intelligent interest in their fetlow-creatures and in the community of wliieh they form a part will give serious eonsuleralion to this subject in all itn bearing.-, and will nob be» deterred by any bogus cry of boycotting from acting in the matter as conscionca directs.—l am, etc., , -Aegds.