C.O.D.

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 10

C.O.D.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have watched with interest the discussion on the above subject, ami whether any good will come of it remains to bo snen. The majority of people will always purchase in the best market, ami cannot bo blamed for so doing. V\e all realise that good money goes out of the country, and with it the moans of keeping men in employment, but there has never been a condition brought about unless there has been a cause for it. hor a young country such as New Zealand-it is a aet-back (o see this sort of thing going on, and the remedy is in the people’s own hands. There is hot a shadow of doubt (hat many lines in New Zealand ' arc controlled by rings, who dictate to the retailer at what price he is to sell his goods. I could enumerate many of them, but m the meantime will be content to confine mvself to my own line, which is electrical ’roods. Some time , back the Government s attention was drawn to the fact of electrical "oods being controlled, and itetaled that if, at any time it was found to be a fact, it would take action, but without a doubt rings still ■ flourish, to the detriment of the buying pubic. _ I have always endeavoured to give customers the benefit of good -buying, and have had no end of'difficulties'to.contend with Take one of our many lines (electric'lamps). I challenge anyone to contradict.my statement that thus line is. not controlled bv a ring who constantly meet to dictate terras and demand . that_ lamps arc to be sold, at 100 per cent, profit, am if their ruling is not carried, out it would be disastrous to anyone they could deal with. I have always fought hard against their treatment by giving the public, the benefit of my buying, and hare f the position to go straight to the factory, where anv interference regarding bow a man should sell his. goods will not be tolI. have evidence before me that would astound many, and from day to day we see different lines being gathered controlled. In fact, the subject istoo gieat to aSk for space fo deal with it; but things arc fast coming to a head, and T hope a commission will be appointed and . something done to put this class of people where they should he. . ,' \ s I have instanced only one line I ask.: Ts* it fair that the public, because a few dictate prices, should bo penalised when they can go over the heads of this class of person and buy in’ an open market, as many have been doing by sending to Great Britain and paying reasonable prices? This will bring things' to a head, and exploitation methods will have to cease. The. shopkeeper will then be in a position to sell his goods ,«s he thinks fit, and when that tun»

conies be will not need to worry about prospective customers striding Home for their goods, as lie will be able to give a service equal to the shopkeepers in England, and instead'of the money going in that direction ho will find that it will come his way. I trust, sir, that niy illustration will assist those who often wonder at the difference when they compare prices between the two countries—namely, New Zealand and Great Britain—and may this be a little help in the right direction whereby action will be taken to keep our country free, as we do not want to be dictated to by anyone controlling lines such as we have to ■contend with in the electrical trade.—l am, etc, T. J. O'Kkua. Julia 2&