THE 'SMALL TRADERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 7

THE 'SMALL TRADERS

10 THE EDITOK

■ Slit, —The functions exercised by the small shopkeepers in the life of the community are undoubtedly most useful and important. Unfortunately New Zealand statistics do not give details of retail trade, and therefore it is impossible to give definite figures. In Britain, however, returns show that " Unit shops " number about 550,000 with a turnover of £1,000,000,000, against 30,000 chain stores with a turnover of £300,000,000, 10,000 Co-op. branches turning over £200,000,000, and 1000 department stores turning over £150,000,000. Of the unit shops. 00 per cent, consists of small independent businesses, most of them family concerns, which employ over 2,000,000 workers besides family helpers. It is not unreasonable to assume that, if figures were available, the position in New Zealand would show very similar comparative results. The great number of small traders is largely due to the natural desire of being one's own master. of having one's own business, and of using one"s abilities lo the best advantage. They are people of enterprise, courage, and independence. The small trader, in short, is a valuable asset in the life of the nation, and care should be taken not to make his existence impossible by restrictive legislation.—We are. etc.. N.Z. Welfare League. June 11.