DISTRICT NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 141, 23 June 1898, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

RICHMOND. LITERARY CLASS. The uanal -weekly meeting of the Richmond Literary Class was held on Tuesday evening', Mr Dodgshun reading a paper on " Shams."" The speaker gave instances from his own experience of sham politicians, sham religionists, shams in soft goods, paper boots, patent medioines, etc., showing oleariy that shams of every kind existed, in fact almost proving that in these times, when, competition in every line is so keen, and profits are out so fine, it is nearly impossible for one to succeed in any line of business without resorting to fraud or deception of gome kind. Mr Dodgehua pointed oat that the consumers themselves were largely responsible for a great number of the shoddy goods in existence, as the matter mostly resolved itself into a question o£ supply and demand. The public demand cheap goods, and they get them at the expense of quality, or, worse still, as the result of "sweating " down the manufacturing classes, The paper was commerited on by several preaenfc and it was pointed out that competition, whioh is so largely responsible for inducing and fostering a variety of fraud and deceptions, was a very important issue and worthy the consideration of all, as shown by the present struggle going on between the great nations for the ohief control of the commerce of the world. Reasoning down from the greater to the lesser, it was shown that it is an important question for us to decide as a community and as individuals, and it was pointed out that the remedy for frauds and shams is largely in our own hands. Reference was also made to puffing advertisements, sub-contracts, and other matters. <