The Manawatu Daily Times The Time Payment System

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 214, 7 September 1934, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times The Time Payment System

The merits or demerits of the time-payment system will always provide fruitful grounds for discussion. Those people who object to it sec in its application the danger of a wageearner undertaking the purchase of goods that, he cannot afford, or committing himself to the possessing of something that borders on extravagance or luxury. Against those views is the .indisputable fact that many workers, were they to wait until able to pay cash for their purchase, would miss many years of usage before their desired object was achieved. The most eloquent instance ox the benefits of time-payment is the sale of radio sets, if spot cash note demanded by radio dealers, it is quite safe to say that 90 per cent, of the aerials we see rearing their heads in the gardens and yards of our houses would never have been installed. Those sticklers for “cash on the nail’-' may sec in this a mild form of extravagance, but the system of time-payment in this case has brought, pleasure and education to thousands who would otherwise have been restricted. Like everything else, however, the entering into time-payment contracts can be carried to excess, and little sympathy can be wasted on those who commit themselves to meet payments at Ihe expense of tradesmen who supply the necessities of life. The possibilities of attaining goods or pleasure by the svstem of deferred payment arc many, but one that has yet to be exploited in this country is the weekly or monthly contribution towards the cost of annual holidays. How many working men promise themselves and their families a week or fortnight s holiday in another town “next year”? Resolutions are made to put a little away cacii week, but the months roll by and annual leave finds him stili minus the wherewithal to take his holiday. Would a system of time-payment inaugurated by our Rail- . way Department not assist in this direction? By this means a man could approach his nearest statiomnaster and get the cost of holiday fares for his family to the town he desired to visit. He could then purchase each week coupons of various denominational values until the full fare was paid in. .Should lie desire to change his plans or find it impossible to parry on with the payments he could be refunded in cash less a small percentage for the department’s working expenses. In this case the payee would not enjoy his “purchase” until the full amount was paid, but against this there would be a greater incentive to save, and the result in any case would achieve something that a haphazard “ lay-by ” would perhaps fail to do.

The steamer Marama reached Auckland yesterday, two days lato on account of the storm she encountered on Sunday and Monday. Rather than run at her usual speed in the teeth of the galc, her master, Captain Morgan, all but hovc-to and she proceeded at little more than drifting speed. Ho remarked on arrival that “the last storm is aiways the worst, ” but the passengers were satisfied ono such experience is sufficient for a lifetime. Between Sunday and Wednesday most of them remained in their cabins. No damage was done to the ship, but one of the crew was thrown heavily, and he was sent ashore yesterday for examination, it being thought he fractured a rib,

On the resumption at Wellington of the case of theft of £ls from Kenneth Haywood Taylor May, of New Plymouth, a salesman, against Ruby Buliffc, aged 26, and Olive May Fletcher, aged 24, counsel for accused said that, after a further consultation with his clients and the relatives of ono of them, he desired to enter a plea of guilty and elect to have the- case dealt with summarily. The Magistrate remauded accused till .to-day for a report from the woman probation officer it was stated that all the money had been recovered, Of every steer weighing 10001b.,8751b. is used commercially.