ITINERANT TRADERS.

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1923, Page 2

ITINERANT TRADERS.

Should Kumara Act ? “WILL STRENGTHEN OUR HAND” At the last meeting of the local Borough Council a deputation from the local Shopkeepers’ Association asked that a tax be put on itinerant traders. In yesterday’s issue the Kumara correspondent of the i( Argus” suggested in his notes that the Kumarn Council should impose a similar tax or fee on who came from Greymouth to "Vat township. When the attention of Mr I. Nelson (secretary of the Shopkeepers’ Association) was drawn to the matter, he said that Kumara wrs quite justified in imposing a tax. Greymouth was oniy protecting itself in the same manner as did Hokitika and Ross. “If Kumara does likewise,” he said, “well, we won’t object.”

From the Association standpoint, continued Mr Nelson, any action trken by Kumara in this direction would strengthen the hand of the Greymouth business-men. The men who went from. Greymouth to Kumara, were only individuals, he said, and if a tax were imposed, they would have to pay. The deputation to the Council had made it clear, however, that only traders who took shops need be taxed, as others, who went from door to door, paid a hawker’s license. “As an Association, we arc very pleased to think that Kv. mara is going to take up a’stand similar to our own,” concluded Mr Nelson, “for if these traders from outside, districts find tin t they have to pay from Reefton downwards, they may stop away. ’ ’ Another business man said that Kumara would be doing the right thing in imposing such a tax as was proposed. “They have suffered badly at the hands of our local traders,” he said.