AMERICAN BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 8

AMERICAN BUSINESS.

GROWTH OF CHAIN STORES

PAYMENTS BY INSTALMENTS

PYJAMAS SOLD OX TRAINS

"Olio of the most striking features of business in Canada and the United States is the merging of large concerns, the increasing number of chain shops, and the growing practice of payment by instalments," said Mr. D. Kodie, commercial manager of the Xcw Zealand Railways, who. with Mrs. Kodie, has just returned from a three months' health tour in America. Chain shops wen; found in practically all lines of business, said Mr. Kodie, but most prominently in cigar, drug and .shoe stores, "groceterias" and f> and 10 cent stores. This reduced -overhead charges and cheapened costs, but appeared to be creating a position in which the individual tradesman would be unable to do business. "The payment of accounts by instalment is very prevalent," said Mr. Kodie. ""This practice has caused much of the present stringency in various lines of business, for when bad times came progress nnymcnt.s cannot be kept up and the purchases of such things as radios, furniture, motor cars and the like fell back on the hands of the vendors."' Railways' Struggle to Pay. "In regard to transportation," continued Mr. Kodie. "the railways arc suffering to a great extent from the prevailing trade depression. The passenger traffic has been affected to some extent by the stage motor coach, but more severely by the private car. In California, for example, there is a motor car for every '2i of population, and the tine highways offer every inducement to car owners to use the roads for long distances. Asking for "Lifts" Stopped. "When we were motoring in Canada and the States we noticed that a practice of asking for lifts from passing motorists was very prevalent. One railway company reported that this cost tlio lines of the Boston district lf>oo passengers per day, and more than f>o.ooo dollars' revenue in 1!)2!>. Official aid has been .sought, and it was decided to issue summonses to persons caught soliciting lifts." Mr. Kodie said constant improvements; were being made in the trains in America, and ev/jry possible comfort was provided, but visually at charges above those ruling in New Zaland. "There are surcharges for travel by certain" specially equipped trains," he said, "but despite these charges, it is often necessary to book well in advance in order to secure accommodation. One railway, the Burlington, carries a. stock of ■pyjamas on its crack trains to sell to absent-minded or hurried passengers who join without the necessary garments. Razor blades, shaving soap and suchlike articles are also carried."