Madam, – I was saddened to read of Arnotts’ financial problems. (Home News, July 29th). Arnotts was respected in this family as a fair employer in the early years of the last century. My uncle was employed in Arnotts. He was a member of the Irish Volunteers. On Easter Monday 1916 he was in the garrison in Jacob’s where he was the quartermaster general under the command of Thomas McDonagh. At the end of Easter Week, he was interned in Frongoch Camp in North Wales.
While he was interned there, a gentleman went in to Arnotts to enquire about a job. Mr Nesbitt told him that there were no vacant positions at that time. The gentleman then enquired about my uncle’s job, which was obviously vacant. Mr Nesbitt replied that my uncle’s job was there for him whenever he wished to return. This attitude was in stark contrast to that of other employers. Many people who “went out” on Easter Monday 1916 subsequently lost their jobs. Single ladies in poorly paid jobs were particularly badly hit. - Yours, etc,