RETAILERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 13

RETAILERS’ ASSOCIATION.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —Recently articles have appeared in our papers advocating the necessity of a retailers’ organisation. I am in hearty agreement with the necessity of forming such an organisation, which will be able to appeal to the Government with a concerted voice, but I doubt the advisability of petitioning Parliament on the lines suggested by the organiser. A continuance of multitudinous organisations, each going its individual and separate way, each making its own request, seeing the common problem from its own viewpoint only, or at least voicing its grievance and making its appeal from its _ own narrow outlook, must be discontinued if we are to achieve anything worth while.

The heavy licensing of departments on the accumulative scale outlined would undoubtedly act as a deterent to our major organisations, but_ a much more practical method of stimulating business generally is at present being mooted bv the sales subsidy organisation. This body presents a case for better organisation of retailers, asking for a reversal of the sales tax—not just the removal of the tax. but its reversal. This means a subsidy on sales, and would permit of an immediate reduction in prices of 10 per cent. A poliev of this nature is all encompassing, "in that it provides for greater turnover by retailers, to the direct benefit of consumers. All branches of industry would benefit from the manufacturer down . I understand that the formation ot this organisation has progressed favourably further north, and the object of the movement is regarded by an eminent economist as a practical one. I trust that the business section ot our citv will realise the necessity of tendering to Parliament, with a united and potent voice, a reasonable and practical request. .... , , I am reminded ot a statement made bv Air Neville Chamberlain at Birmingham o" March 9, 1934: “If 500 people write to me and ask roe to reduce or abolish a particular tax, the oulv effect upon my mind is that or a rail'd irritant, although one letter, it it were well reasoned, might affect my Judgment.”—l am, etc., August 8. Retailer.