Back to Barter

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6619, 4 August 1931, Page 7

Back to Barter

A SIGN OF THE TIMES. AUSTRALIAN TREND. SYDNEY, July 23. it is surely a sign of the times tJiat the age of uarter should be returning in Australia. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that in these hard times so many people find themselves short of reauy casn, and arc forced to look to other means to satisfy their requirements. This “goods currency” becomes quite a complicated affair, aud many or tile bargain hunters are not easily pieased. too many people have found that they cannot now run their motor-ears that many vehicles are on the market, ft is not an uncommon thing, for instance, for the owner of a car to advertise his willingness to exchange it for a good wireless set or a billiard table. At one of the suburban Courts in Sydney the other day a man was charged with driving a car without a license. At least it was u car for tho purposes of the Traffic Act, but it was such a strango-looking contraption that the Magistrate was prompted to ask the offender where he got it. “Oh,” was the quiet reply, “I exchanged it for an old horse and sulky and Z’2 fowls.” There is another authenticated case of a man who traded in his car for a shot-gun, a bushel of corn, and 6 i four bob.Ho was out of work, and wanted to go rabbit-shooting. .Some of the “exchange” advertisements in the city Press suggest that bartering has its difficulties. A few days ago an advertiser offered to exchange a talking galah parrot for a male Persian eat. Another advertiser in the same issue wanted to be rid ot a Persian cat, but demanded in exchange a skunk fur. It is not lecoidcd whether the parties came together. It is not easy to understand why anyone should want to get rid of a talking parrot which he had gone to the trouble to train, unless the language of the bird was setting a bad example to the children. It would not surprise Australians if the Taxation Commissioner paid attention to this form of trading. Surely, lie will not. allow it to go free. Nothing does go free these days. „ It is hard to understand some or the advertisements. Why, for instance, should one advertiser feci a sudden urge to forsake a number of goldfish for lovebirds. Then there is the “golfer” who would dispose of his clubs for firearms. Perhaps he, too, is going after rabbits, having become thoroughly disgusted at his attempts to beat bogey. A disillusioned miner offered his “complete gold-mining plant for an interest in propery.” Property is a burden these days; maybe gold-mining is not too profitable. What of the possessor of a “beautiful baby grand piano” who would exchange it for a motor-bike and side-car? Perhaps the side-car suggests the reason for the sudden change of mind. It is quite easy to understand why the owner of a lawn mower would be willing to exchange it for a typewriter. Typing is much more interesting than cutting the grass, but how many “second year hens” did a man expect for his “maple wardrobe of best Queensland timber”? Yes, there are many human interest stories in the advertisements these days. . y. .