TRADING COUPONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21361, 15 June 1931, Page 6

TRADING COUPONS.

Few, i£ any, arguments have yet been heard in favour of the trading coupon system except from the promoters of the schemes. Many, on the other hand, have been the protests against the unchecked growth in New’Zealand of this curious form of enterprise which confers various gifts in order to stimulate the sale of the goods in which the donors specialise. Among those organisations which have roundly condemned trading coupons, and have given sound reasons for their condemnation of them, are such representative business corporations as the Associated Chambers of Commerce and the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. The Government last year acknowledged the justice of the complaints that' were made to it on the subject and gave an earnest of its support of the objections to the coupon system by preparing a Bill to prohibit the issue of coupons. This measure, the Trading-coupons Bill, was introduced in the House during the recent session and was the subject of some discussion, but the Government did not persevere with it. It was assumed that, as parliament had been specially convened to deal; with more urgent matters affecting the financial state of the country, the Bill had been withdrawn to a day when there would oe more time to consider a question that was not of urgent moment. Within the last few weeks, however, as correspondence in our columns has indicated, the impression has been formed in the trading community that the Government has decided to abandon the intention, which was expressed in the Bill of last session, to legislate against the issue of coupons. One of the firms that have made a practice of issuing coupons has definitely cancelled a previous announcement of the closing of its scheme and has . given as it reason, that the legislation which was introduced has not been passed. There may or may not be any particular significance in this fact, but it does give emphasis to the contention of a correspondent that the Government should make known what its intentions really are. The trading coupon system is generally, recognised in business circles as one that constitutes an interference with legitimate trading. It is well known that it has, in the case of some businesses, particularly • among the smaller shopkeepers, had an appreciable effect in reducing the turnover in many lines. When Parliament assembles this month there are several matters of grave moment to which attention must be given, but the business of the session will not be restricted l;o measures of finance, and if the Trading-coupons Bill; is revived it , should meet with a favourable reception. It is certainly desirable, in view of the uncertainty which exists, that the Government should make plain its attitude in regard to the coupon system.