CHAIN DRUG STORES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 6

CHAIN DRUG STORES

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —As stated in your issue of the 21st inst., petitions have been circulated throughout the Dominion praying that our representatives in Parliament will take steps to prevent Boots, Ltd., from entering into competition here —and rightly so. Other countries have blocked this firm. Why? Because they showed wisdom and understanding. The public is well and truly catered for by the chemists at present—by qualified men and women who have served apprenticeships and had to pass severe examinations. If Boots, Ltd., once gets a footing in New Zealand, hundreds, of qualified chemists and assistants will be thrown out of work and most of the smaller disEensaries will be closed down. As Boots, td., will have no New Zealand capital in their business and all the profits will go out of the Dominion, it not only means mqrjj unemployment but less circulation of capital in New Zealand, and more rates and duties levied on_ the public, for the public pays every time. I could give numerous reasons why the competition of Boots, Ltd., would be detrimental to the welfare of New Zealand, but I know that other more able pens are dealing with the matter. I have no hesitation in 6aying, however, that if the representatives of the people of this Dominion allow Boots, Ltd., to get a footing hera they will be making one ot the biggest blunders in the history of Parliament.—l am, etc., Pharmacy.