THE LADY COMMISSION AGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 81

THE LADY COMMISSION AGENT.

B v Constance Clyde,

(For the Witness.)

As once before mentioned, the trend in women’s work is now against the “genteel” indoor occupation, and towards that which, takes the worker outside and amongst all sorts and conditions of people. Thus it is that even in Australasia,* where mid-Vivtorian sentiment about women is curiously enough more prevalent than in tho Homeland, the lady commission agent has been for some years to the fore. An enterprising lady in one of the northern towns gives her experiences. ‘‘Left a widow with two children, I debated what to do. The idea of taking in paying guests came at once to the fore, but a world-wise friend gave it as her opinion that my children were ‘the wrong age for boarders. When I asked what was the right age, she replied, ‘No age,’ which, pessimistic view put a damper on my desire to follow the more usual occupation of hard-up widows. An advertisement for an agent caught my eye, and I called. This gave me my first but by no means my last insight into the Extreme changenbleness of human nature. The man interviewed had never employed, and never would employ, a woman. He was decided on the point. The circumstances did not exist that could cause hie inflexible proud spirit thus to unbend. This was the impression that he gave me. ... In the papers a morning or two later a friend pointed out an advertisement:—‘lf the lady who called on Messrs Thursday morning rc agency will call again, etc., etc.’ I called, received the appointment, and do not know to this day what caused this exceedingly determined individual to change his mind. “A successful commission agent needs, above all tilings, to have good health and excellent nerves. Ido not include good temper, for, of course, if she did not possess that she would not be a commission agent at all, or not at least for more that ten minutes. Some insight into human nature is her reward m addition to her commission, which is as low as 5 l>er cent, sometimes, hut which usually ranges from 10 per cent, upwards. An agent working perhaps for two or three firms in different classes of goods is dependent on the services of her clients in getting other customers. It is a curious fact that ‘good payers’ are the one* who put themselves to trouble in order to assist the agent. The bad payers never attempt to atone for direct injury by indirect benefit. Midway between the good and the had payers are the clients, not uncommon in country districts, who pay by produce. Mrs Smith is so sorry she can’t pay the last £2. Will the agent prefer to "wait a year or so, or will she take it out in cream? The agent decides to take it out in cream.

“In ray earlier and more struggling days I have come home quite laden with paidup debts in the shape of eggs or fruit or preserves ‘Agenting’ certainly seemed a pleasing occupation to ray two children, who, fortunately enough, were old enough to ho left a good deal at home. “A little tact is needed with customers of a type, and often the woman agent is regarded more as a friend and adviser than as a mere business intermediary. An old man living in an out-of-the-way district considered that his loneliness would he cheered by a piano. His sons, both well-to-do artisans, were willing to gratify him, hut how would father learn to play ? I willingly offered my services if the piano were bought through me, and very soon the old man was whiling away the lonely hours with the strains of ‘The Campbells

are coming’ and such melodies, played one note at a time and with the right hand only. Coming my rounds as usual, I found grandfather one day awaiting me with beaming smiles with the information that he had learnt to play the bass by himself. Somewhat surprised, I sat down to listen, whereupon, as one who has really climbed the heights, he took his place and played the tune with both hands, but merely using the same notes in the left as in the right. He had no idea that the bass meant something different, and he was so pleased by his achievement that for some time I had not the heart to undeceive him.

“As time progresses the commission agent, if she knows her business, fiinds herself with a better circle of clients. She had learned to know a bad payer by sight, and less frequently opens out the daily papers with misgivings in case familiar names should be on the bankruptcy list. She becomes ‘cute.’ A wedding is talked of. Will the young couple want furniture? is the thought that comes into her mind. A flood suggests damaged pianos and the need of new ones; hopes are raised if a garden is passed and children of pianoplaying age are to seen playing upon the lawn.” “It is said that the priest and doctor know the inner life of a family as no one else knows it,” said this particular lady; “but I often think that to these should be added the commission agent. When you have worked for a family sometimes they get to look on her as a friend, and often she is consulted about matters that have nothing to do with the business on hand. I have been asked, for instance, to persuades the eldest son of the family to go to church.” But what struck this lady in special was the fact that so many families comparatively well-to-do are yet willing and ready to get then’ goods by the slow purchase system. In one household it was computed that some £6 or £8 came into the family from the various members thereof. Yet a small musical instrument, price no more than 30s, was got on the time-payment system. They would rather have payments drag out for two or three years than retrench a little in their expenditure and have done with the business at once.