THE WHOLESALE SOFT GOODS TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20222, 7 October 1927, Page 12

THE WHOLESALE SOFT GOODS TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—May I he permitted to direct attention to tho practice of wholesale soft goods warehouses in this city. I have boon connected with the soft goods trade in Dunedin for many years, and have always understood that the wholesale warehouses belonging to the association existed purely and simply as wholesalers, supplying only to the retail trade. Notices to this effect, “Trade Only Supplied,” are displayed in all the loading wholesale houses. This appears to mo to be merely a farce as not one of these houses adheres strictly to this rule. 1 know personally dozens of people who, though in no way connected with tho retail trade, purchase all their wearing apparel etc., from our “ wholesale ” houses. Those people make no secret of it,—in fact, have boasted of it—and they buy also for tbeir friends The employees themselves are daily taking advantage of their positions and purchasing for thenhosts of friends. The people who take advantage of this stylo of wholesale trading are not to be blamed, but undoubtedly liic onus lies upon the firms that supply them to stop this practice. I do not doubt that the managements of the (inns arc in many cases ignorant of this illicit trading, but as a retailer T wish to object strongly to this kind of business on the part of the wholesale merchants, to whom the retail tradesman gives his support, and who, indeed, look to the retailors.—l am, etc., P.KTA'LKIi. Dunedin, October ft, *