"CUT" PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 9

"CUT" PRICES.

CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO. UNFAIR COMPETITION. AN INDIGNATION MEETING. Indignant that certain retail shops other than tobacconists should sell cigarettes and tobacco at cut priccs in order to advertise their own lino of business, a big representative meeting of members of the Auckland Hairdressers and Tobacconists' Association was held last night. Two delegates, Messrs. T. Sampson and Geo. Jackson, were appointed to attend a special conference at Wellington on Friday.

At the meeting last night, over which Mr. E. Asher presided, there was a long discussion on the question of licensing tobacconists. Members thought that it was grossly unfair that other than bona fide tobacconists should be allowed to retail tobacco just above cost price. Objection was stressed on the fact that certain Queen Street shape were selling cigarettes and tobacco merely to advertise themselves. In nearly every case the firms concerned had established their tobacco counters well back from the entrance, so that customers who wanted to buy cigarettes were forced to walk through the shop. In this way it was thought that other lines would attract them.

All over New Zealand tobacconists find that tho same thing is happening. The trouble is not only in tho cities, for many complaints have been voiced in provincial and countrv towns said Mr. Asber.

Delegates from all over the Dominion will attend the. conference of tho Hairdressers and Tobacconists' Association at Wellington on Friday. The conference is a special one that has been railed to discuss this question. Auckland's delegates have been instructed to act as thev think best.