GUM STOREKEEPERS AND THE WAGES PROTECTION BILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10200, 3 August 1896, Page 3

GUM STOREKEEPERS AND THE WAGES PROTECTION BILL

TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—The thanks of all gum storekeeper! are duo to ' Experience' for the abU manner in which he relates the difficulties they have to contend with. Should the Wagss Protection Bill become law, all storekeepers should combine and refuse credit to any gumdigger. Insisting on cash payments would causo a little friction at first, but the cash system would soon work all right, and those engaged in the gum business would get used to it, and goods could be supplied at far lower rates. I will almost guarantee that any storekeeper who tries a cash business for 12 months will be bettor off at the end than if he gave credit, I speak from many years of experience in the gum trade. It is quite surprising'feometimes to see how cash is found and forked out when a start on credit is refused. The cash system would soon bring tho swindling element amongst the gumdiggers'to their senses, when they would either have to work 01 starve. At present, numerous loafers are to be found on all gumfields, who simply prey on those storekeepers who are foolish enough to give them credit; they injure tho honest digger in many ways, and often prevent his getting credit. If Mr. Seddon wishes to confer a real benefit on the gumdiggers let him alter the licensing law so that the unnecessary so-called hotels on gumfields can bo done away with, and stop those ' bursts' that, as a rule, the storekeeper who gives credit has to pay for. Even hard-drinking gumdiggers prefer a field whero there is no grog shop, as thoy know well they never can do any good when near a pub.— am; etc., Gumbdyeu.