THE GROCERS’ BOYCOTT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 970, 3 October 1890, Page 30

THE GROCERS’ BOYCOTT.

Sir, —Your correspondent “Unity” waxes eloquent over tlio evils of competition in retail trades, more especially in the grocery business. He makes a lot of ridiculous assertions about wages falling to almost starvation point, one man having to do the work of two, etc. Now, as a thorough believer in the small profit and quick return system of doing business, 1 defy “Unity” to prove that this means low wages and overwork, bo far, at any rate, ns tho grocery trade is concerned, I believe in advertising and selling cheap for cash. I have conducted my business on these principles for over

six years, in Wellington. I am glad to say thatsuccesshas attended my efforts. If “ Unity ” will take the trouble to inquire of any of the Wellington merchants he will find that the six years I have carried on business on this system I have always been able to pay cash for my goods. But I doubt if the same can bo said of all those who are the most active members of the Grocers’ Association, and who have so little faith in doing business on what I call modern lines. The fact that these grocers who like myself believe in freedom are tho most prosperous members of the trade, is a strong argument against the present attempt to raise prices all round ; and it is not surprising to find that the merchants as a body refused to sign the foolish agreement which the Association placed before them. Let the Association take warning from what is occurring in Christchurch, where it would appear that the biter is likely to bo bit. My advice is to leave boycotting tactics alone. If you are to continue as an association avoid extreme measures for drawing your neighbours into the same way. of thinking as yourselves ; work (harmoniously together for the good of all, and not in the interest of a fow only, then your Association will meet, with hearty sympathy and support. —I am, Ac., E. B. CuEsriN, Te Aro Cash Store.

Sir, —Mr E. B. Crespin, in answer to “Unity,” states that “Unity” makes U 3 3of ridiculous assertions.” This I also admit ; but, Sir, Mr E. B. Crespin also makes use of some assertions which, if not ridiculous, is evidently drawing a herring across tho scent. Mr Crespin states lie is a believer in his style of doing business, that he has carried on business on this system for some years, and that success has attended his efforts in carrying on business on what he is pleased to call “ modern lines.” He states, “Those grocers who, like myself, believo in freedom,” and again, “ It is not surprising to find tho merchants as a body refusing to sign the foolish document which the Association placed before them.” Sir, I would like to ask Mr Crespin if tho quotations I have extracted from his letter aro true, then how doe 3he reconcile them with the fact of his having joined the said Association, taken the tickets out of his windows and stopped advertising prices 1 The old proverb has it that “Bats leave a sinking ship.” I would advise Mr Crespin to follow the lead of the “ Saint Crespin ” of old and stick to his last. Let him remember the fablo of the daw and the peacock, and not attempt to strut in borrowed plumes, as what he terms “ modern lines of business” was first introduced in "Wellington over 20 years ago, and has been in vogue since the time of the Romans. —I am, &c., W. Jameson.

Sir, —It is only necessary to say in reply to Messrs Jameson Brothers and Co.’s letter, that tho statements contained in it are untrue. The Grocers’ Association do not believe in boycotting either the merchants or their fellow retailers, and they have not dono so. All they want is fair play all round. Have the merchants forgotten that they have had a sugar ring for two years, and that the same ring has lately agreed to raise, as from the Ist October, tho price of a large number of leading lines in groceries ? And yet the gentlemen merchants, “do not believe in advancing the general cost of subsistence in these troubled times.” Messrs Jameson Bro 3. and Co. do not believe in Unionism ; they also do not believe in early closing, and keep open till seven o’clock, while their neighbours close at six. They do not believe in anything but their own good selves, and they are welcome to their own esteem and that of the merchants who believe in them. In answer to Me Crespin’s letter, the best answer to his statement regarding wages, &3., the boys in his employ could give best ; as to paying cash for goods, I do not call two months’ credit a cash transaction. If Mr Crespin does a cash business, why the long face and the hunting up L 5 here and L 7 there at certain times of the month ? There are a great many members of the Association who can pay spot cash for their goods, and who would do so if the merchants gave them any encouragement in the shape of extra discount. My remarks concerning the merchants will show if I personally am in any way under their thumb, neither am I being run by any merchant, so Mr Crespin’s remarks (I have always been able to pay cash for my goods, but I doubt if the same C3n be said of all those who aro the most active members of the Grocers’ Association) are not applicable to me. I further think these remarks are both vindictive and unmanly,considering Mr Crespin is a member of the Association, and signed the same obligation as the other members. Mr Crespin further states that it is an attempt to raise the prices all round. False again j but knowing that, why did he join tho Association and now pose as having a mind above the other grocers? His advice to the Association is too rick for comment, coming from such a source. My advice is, truthful advertisements, show the truth, speak tho truth.—l am, Ac., Henry Sexton, Secretary Wellington Grocers’ Association. Sir, —In answer to Mr Sextons letter,. I say he evidently intends your readers

tonhfer that I employ a number of boys at nominal wages. Allow me to say that this is not so, as I have only two boys, who are learning the trade and are well paid for doing so. Mr Sexton evidently is an adept at making unfair implications, but very wisely refrains from stating that certain things are as he would imply. He asks—“ls two months’credit a cash transaction ? ” My answer is, most emphatically, no ; and I repeat my assertion that I pay cash for my goods regularly every month. In support of this statement I am quite prepared to show my regular monthly receipts to anyone who wishes to verify or contradict. Here is another opinion from the same source : “ I further think these remarks are both vindictive and unmanly, considering Mr Crespin is a member of the Association and signed the same obligations rb the other members.” This remark is only partially true, as I am no longer a member of the Association, having resigned all connection therewith. It is true that I signed tho same obligations, but it was only at tho last moment, and then very much against my own inclinations, being forced to do so by a threat of the boycott. Now, Sir, I would like to ask Mr Sexton to put a little statement of fact from me in his pipe and smoke it. It i 3 this, that after ho received my resignation he and others went to the merchants and asked them to sign an agreement to boycott any grocer remaining outside tl:e pale of the Association, which the merchants very properly and justly declined to do, Then, what was the next move ? Why, Mr Sexton, accompanied by Mr T. K. Macdonald, waited upon me and asked me to reconsider my decision. Mr Sexton further states my assertion that it was intended to raise prices, is false. Pleae read rule 13 : “ The Council shall, as soon as possible after the election, formulate a tariff or scale fixing the prices which the members of the Association shall charge for such lines of goods as tho Council may decide upon, and any such scale of prices shall be submitted to a special meeting of members of the Association convened for the purpose, and when finally adopted shall be printed and a copy sent to every membor.” In the face of this I ask who is it that writes falsely ? It is not at all likely that a fixed scale or tariff would be in the direction of lowering prices. Before I leave Mr Sexton let me say that I heartily endorse the advice he gives in the last clause of his letter, as I do advertise the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And I show tho truth in my window by ticketing the prices of all goods for sale. In conclusion, I have a word for Mr W. JamesoD. I was induced to join the Association a 3 explained above, end immediately after a resolution was carried to abolish window ticketing. That accounts for the withdrawal of my tickets (for a week). I sincerely hope that the Association is a sinking ship, and that I am tho torpedo that causes its destruction. I would advise Mr W. Jameson to look up his history and he need not go back so far as the time of the Romans, and he will see that the Saint of old who stuck to hi 3 last was Saint Crispin, and not Crespin. As for tho modern lines of business which have been vogue in Wellington for the last 20 years, that may be so in the line of modern whiskey, but not in groceries.—l am, etc., E. B. Crespin, The Cash Grocer,