COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS AND HOTELKEEPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13369, 26 December 1906, Page 5

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS AND HOTELKEEPERS.

Sir,—Like your correspondent "An Old Commercial,".! am greatly interested in the above subject, and it may interest not. . a few of your readers to read a little of myexperience. [ have been on " the road" " for nearly 20 years, travelling in England. Scotland, and Ireland, and engaging, all the time in the wine. .spirit, and beer trade. . My first situation in this capacity I secured at the age of 21, and determined to " sink or " swim," on the "no drink during business" principle. This I found somewhat, difficult for (i time, but gradually gained the confidence of the buyers, and increased my returns in the fir-it eight, years from £12,000 to nearly £30,000 per annum. My common practice at the bars and in the commercial rooms was to take cigars. Ojie year, out of curiosity, I decided to keep these, and at the end of the year in question I had art accumulation of "all sorts and conditions," amounting to a grand total exceeding 5000. Many firms at Home encourage their travellers in drinking, so long us they show good returns, and allow thorn an occasional leave of absence for recruiting purposes." I know many commercials in the Old Country who are crippled young men, through excessive drinking; some receive, pensions, while others who were equally successful in their time are now dependent on their wives and families, others on charity, while many have suffered imprisonment. I recollect one of my principals saying to me before commencing my duties: "Never sell drink by buying- it." He was a moat abstemious man, and now enjoys excellent, health, although bordering on 80 years of age. I resigned a splendid appointment in London - a few months ago, in favour of Now Zealand, believing that there should' be excellent prospects for commercials in all lines of business in this rising and prosperous colony, but regret to say that I have not yet succeeded in securing a travellership, and have beep told on different occfe* sions, that I was "Too Old ax Fobtt."