THE COUPON IN THE PACKET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 2

THE COUPON IN THE PACKET.

PETITION AGAINST THE SYSTEM.

If an agitation proceeding at the present time in Wellington is successful, the coupon system that entitles the purchaser to a packet of .somebody's tea or baking powder, or other article, to receive a prize, will be abolished. It will not then bo possible for the sellers or the makers of such articles to push the sale by any such inducements." A petition has been signed by many busineps people praying Parliament to suppress the coupon. Following is the text : — "The humblo petition of the undersigned jewellers, ironmongers, stationers, tea, grocers, crockery, furniture, picture, and fancy goods dealers in the Dominion of New Zealand, showeth — (1) That an Act was passed by your Honourable House entitled .the Trading Stamps Abolition and Discount Stamps Issue Act, 1900, for tho suppression of trading stamps and of similar devices for the transaction of business, but owing to an omission the use of coupons did not como within tho scope of such Act. (2) In consequence of such omission, tliere is being carried on to a very large extent in New Zealand, the practice of packing coupons in packets and packages of lea, baking powder, ' and other goods, and of promoting Limerick and other competitions with the object of inducing the sale thereof. f~i) That the use of coupons in packets of tea, baking powder, and other goods gives a fictitious value to the article sold, and militates against honourable competition and seriously injures almost all trades and businesses whose existence depends upon selling goods which are now being given away by those who resort to coupon trading. (4) That the use of coupons in packets of tea, baking powder, and other goods engenders the spirit of gambling. (5) That in England the promotion of Limerick competitions, and the issue of coupons has, we believe, been declared illegal, while in Victoria legislation has been introduced to suppress them. | "Therefore your petitioners pray — That your Honourable House will pass such 'legislation as may be necessary to suppress the use of coupons, similar devices, and Limericic competitions in connection with the sale of any goods, as being injurious to honest trading and demoralising to the community." The petition , is in no way directed against tho cash discount system, in which a discount ticket is given the gurcliaser j[pr a cask purchase.