THE DUNEDIN GROCERS.

Evening Star, Issue 8267, 12 July 1890, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN GROCERS.

TO THK EDITOR. Sib, —Under the above headiug yuin- i-ur-respondent "Thrifty Housewife" asked for enlightenment as to the aims and operations of the Grocers' Association. Allow me to make their operations known no far as they affect myself and others placed in a similar position. I came to New ZeManrt about two months ago, and, being a cjrocer, took a shop in what I thought to be a promising locality, got in stock, set things straight, and, in order to make myself and my prices known, sent out some price lists. Imagine my surprise when, within twenty-four hours of sending out the lists, I received instructions from the Association's secretary '' to withdraw my ciroulars," and to remove any prined tickets I might be exhibiting. I was further "required" within twenty-four hours to send him a written undertaking to comi.ly with these instructions in the future. Whatever authority this gentleman may have over members of the Association lie certainly has none over those who do not belong to it. These regulations may suit men with well-established businesses, as it prevents competitors from attracting their customers by cheap prices. But for the man who has his trade and commercial reputation to make it is simply ruin, as all the usual means of making his prices known are denied to him. Should he persist in using price tickets or circulars, or in making his prices known through the Press, he is straightway " boycotted," the merchants being bound, under a LSO penalty, not to supply such an one with goods. I have had twenty-four years' experience in the trade, aud never before have I heard of so harsh, arbitrary, and unjust an interference with the liberty of any lawabiding citizen who simply desires the right, which every man should enjoy, of conducting his own business in his own way. I am obliged to come to the conclusion that the promoters of this Association have some ulterior object in view in framing rules which aro almost prohibitive in their operation against new starters in the grocery line. lam very much of opinion that if it were not for the fact of a new firm being about to open in close proximity to the prime movers in this movement, the Association would never have come into existence. The alternative before this house (or any new starter) is, it seems to me, either to knuckle down to the Association, and neither ticket nor advertise either by list or in the Press, or be "boycotted" by the merchants. I leave your readers to judge, from tho facts I have stated, as to the correctness of this opinion. —I am, etc., Grookh, Dunedin, July 10.