BAKERS AND CASH COUPONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 4

BAKERS AND CASH COUPONS.

Sir, —In your issue of to-day, under tho heading of "The Baker's Trials," the case for the trade is ably put, but, as you know, there are two sides to every question—where does tho public come in? Tho President of tho Master Bakers' Association was candid enough to inform your reporter that tho "system" which the . bakers thought of foisting upon their unwary customers meant that "customers would have to buy six or a dozen coupons" in advance, a coupon to be' given up when each loaf is purchased. Very nice indeed for Mr. Baker to becomo all at once, by virtue of his monopoly, a financial agent holding what, in' the aggregate, must amount to a largo sum of public money'-freo of interest. If tho schemo succeeds, you foreshadow that tho butchers will also adopt it. Of course they will, and' tho milkman tool Indeed, once the ball is started and tho gullibility of tho public proved, what is to prevent every tradesman adopting the idea, with, suitablo modifications, for his own trade? No; if we are to adopt a system of cash coupons, let it bo a national one, and let' tho Government step in and take it into its own hands,, as it will certainly bo quite as profitable as tlio issue of trading stamps or tho copper, tokens which wero suppressed by law years ago., Thoso coupons are but tokens under another guise, and -who is to guarantee the solvency of tho individuals issuing same? —I am, etc., i ANDIIEW GRAY. March. IS.