Fewer Travellers Visit North

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1939, Page 5

Fewer Travellers Visit North

[Special to “Northern Advocate”]

KAIKOHE, This Day. Commercial travellers are becoming scarce. Owing to the import restrictions, which have been enforced during the past few months, the amount of business which they can transact has fallen considerably.

Numerous lines, which once were responsible for a greater part of the travellers’ incomes, have been banned, and supplies of several articles are curtailed to such an extent that it is impassible for the firms concerned to supply the city demands, apart from any country orders. As a result of the decline in the number of articles with which travellers can do business, a number of salesmen have been discharged from business houses with whom they have been employed for years. Storekeepers in Kaikche, Okaihau and Eroadwood, when interviewed by an “Advocate” reporter, all stated that they were not looking forward to next Christmas. “At the present time we are finding it extremely hard to obtain delivery of a number of articles, and we do not expect the position to become any easier towards the end of the year,” they all said. “Business is at present quite good,” said a Kaikohe tradesman, “although some articles are hard to obtain, but I hate to think of what is going to happen in the future if the import restrictions are not lifted.” The travellers who seemed to have ceased operations are those handling toys and Japanese goods.