THE COUPON SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 192, 8 May 1908, Page 4

THE COUPON SYSTEM.

Sir,—Your correspondent " Paterfamilias," in. his letter upon the cash trade in bread, criticises tho arguments which I have used in my various letters to the' Press, but ho forgets that .the system of to-day, oxcellent as far as it goes, is by. ho means the same as that outlined, at first in Thb Douimois*. There is now no. compulsion to purchase coupons, fair interest is allowed by tho bakers for the uso of money paid'in 'advance, and the customer has tho satisfaction of knowing' that in lending to his baker ho makes a fair investment. ' There 'remains, however, the difficulty that so long as .workers depend upon the weather, as so many_do in.this city, and sickness and' misfortuno is a risk'which falls heavily upon' thorn, tho system must bear' harshly upoii many ;tltrifty. families,'.who, in the past, wereable to 'command legitimate credit at' ; such times. Think what, it would '.mean :if such a family could neither . get-' milk; .butcher's, meat, or. bread, for even a, week, without' sacrificing. their pride and independence .and falling'/back, upon public . charity.—l am,' • etc., ? ' •" ANDREW .GRAY. .. May 7. ••