COUPON GIFT SCHEMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 12

COUPON GIFT SCHEMES

ro niff editor Sir, —The pioneers of the coupon system declare that it was first invented to induce more sales, and that it has done so. Coupon gifts, they declare, in no way affect the value of the original article, and their cost is defrayed -from advertising appropriation. To that there can only be one answer. The man who receives “gifts” with what he purchases is certainly paying for these so-called “ gifts ” —make no mistake about that—but instead of paying the retailer in his own country he is sending his money out’of the country to the detriment of the retailer, and so helping to cause distress and unemployment which in the end recoils upon himself. Those mostly affected by this pernicious “ gift ” system are the retailers throughout the town and country. They have to earn their living, and pay high rates and taxes out of selling goods which are now given away by these overseas or practically foreign firms. Some of these retailers’ returns have since the advent of this coupon system been reduced by 50 to 70 per cent. This in return is going to have an/ effect on the revenue and also cause much distress.

We were in New Zealand congratulating ourselves in December last that the Government had finally abolished the coupon system from our midst as many other countries have done. What is agitating the minds of the traders is: What is the real reason of the Government's action? — I am, etc., Fair Deal.