THE C.O.D. SYSTEM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 14

THE C.O.D. SYSTEM.

‘TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The C.O.D. system as at present carried on is unjust to shopkeepers and traders in.tips Dominion. There is not a shadow of doubt, about that, but I am afraid that the , Cabinet’s decision to abolish, it, entirely will hardly effect the end desired. . Some other, method of dealing with this problem should be forthcoming., To abolish the _ C.O.D.’ system, as far as, the Post Office is concerned, is not going to stop individual importations. The withdrawal of the Post Office cooperation will simply result in the substitution of some other method of delivery and collection. Already the shippers at Home are- fully prepared for the change, and I saw a notice two or three days ago from a big Manchester firm, prdbably the largest firm of exporters to New Zealand -under the C.O.D. system, stating that, in view “of the threatened change in the Post Office methods,.it has made other arrangements . for the carrying on of the export trade, with retail customers. So the business will go' on. Whether rightly or wrongly, buyers from the Old Country believe that they are getting greater value than they can secure in the Dominion, and, there is nothing-that the Government can. do which., will' stop direct importation by private buyers. On ,the other hand, it has to be remembered that the- shippers at Home are able to sell here without any overhead expenses, rates, taxes, hospital rates, and half a dozen other forms of expense and taxation which have to be met by the local traders. It seems to me that the situation could be satisfactorily dealt with by the imposition of a super duty of 10 per cent, upon all. imports of wearing apparel and other goods purchased for ‘private use, and not tlirough the ordinary .trade channels. This impost , would level up expenses and yield a.' profit to t)ie. Post Office Department after paying for the cost of handling C.O.D. parcels, - which work it docs for practically nothing it the present time, and thus the way would still be open for people to buy direct from the Old- Country. • The paragraph in to-day’s Daily Times from the New Zealand Exporter raises a- very serious question as to the effect which this drastic act of closing down the C.O.D. system will have, upon our largest customers—the British people. I think it will be found that the impost system here suggested would' be the bestway out of the difficulty, ’ The whole matter will-haverto be discussed by Parliament. The public does not want any Order-in-Council autocracy to operate in regard to this important, question. Because a Boot pinches, • that is no reason why the pair should be thrown away. A/little careful attention and some slight adjustments are all that is' needed to put things right. 1 am convinced that to abolish the 'C.O.D. - system will -do the Dominion more injury than the value of any relief it will, afford your drapers and boot aiid shoe shops. - the retail trades most seriously affected. Give, us an impost ami let ns retain our liberties, as long .as-we can.—Tam, etc,, Citizen X. Dunedin, April 26.