The Small Traders

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 2

The Small Traders

Si,..—The functions exercised by the small shopkeeper in the life of the community are undoubtedly most useful and Important. Unfortunately New Zealand statistics do not give details of retail trade, therefore it is impossible to give definite figures. In Britain, however, returns show that “unit shops” number about 550,000 with a turnover of £lOOO million against 30,(100 chain stores with a turnover ot £3OO million. 10,000 co-operative branches turning over £2OO million 1000 department stores turning ’ over £l5O million. Of the unit shops, 90 per cent, are small independent businesses, most of them family concerns, which employ over 2,000,000 workers in addition to family helpers. It is not unreasonable to assume that if figures were available the position in New Zealand would show very similar comparative results. The greater number of small traders is largely due to the natural desire of being one’s own master or having one's own business and using one's abilities to the best advantage - they are people of enterprise, courage and independence. The small trader, in short, is a valuable asset in the life of the nation, and care should be taken not to make his existence impossible by restrictive legislation.—We are. etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, June 11.