Nowadays it is usual practice for most retail shops, especially those which are independent and often staffed by the owner, to close at about 5pm or 5.30pm.

However this has not always been in the case, and in 1888 residents of Ross were informed, through the pages of the Ross Gazette, that shopkeepers had agreed to try a new system of early closing on a Tuesday afternoon. The shops would all be persuaded to close at 4pm on this one day a week to allow their shop assistants three hours of leisure to spend as they liked. This was because normal closing was at 7pm every week day.

The Gazette reported that it was hoped that having this extra free time would ‘cement a good feeling between the employer and employee.’

However, a letter also published in the Ross Gazette revealed that not everyone thought this was such a good idea.

A gentleman, who asked for his name not to be included had written: “On reading this account of the meeting of the shopkeepers and assistants held in Ross I could not help noticing that the convenience of customers was not considered.”

He went on to suggest that anyone who could afford to turn away business by closing early did not deserve to run a successful business, and he considered that closing at 7pm every evening was too early. He compared Ross to other towns where the shops stay open until 8pm. He then suggested that if they close early on a Tuesday perhaps they should make up the time by staying open until 8pm on the other days, except Saturdays.

The Editor of the Ross Gazette was not in agreement with this letter writer and did not hide his feelings on the matter at all.

In his response to the letter he first explained that the author of the letter had given his name to the Editor, ‘or his letter would not have been inserted.’ and refers to him as someone ‘who gives with one hand but takes away with another.’

The Editor said: “Presumably he does not know what it is like to stand behind a counter from 8 o’clock in the morning until 8pm at night.”

He added: “It is not very graceful for a man whose duties commence at 9.30am in the morning and end at 4.30pm in the afternoon on five days a week, and whose salary is probably far in excess of the assistants in shops, to desire that the latter should not be released from their work until 8 o’clock at night merely because he does not care about doing his shopping at a reasonable time.