MASTER GROCERS CONFER

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1928, Page 9

MASTER GROCERS CONFER

NEW SHOPS & OFFICES ACT UNFAIR COMPETITION STOPPED. COUPON TRADE UNDESIRABLE By Telegraph.—Frees Association. Nelson, Last Night. The fifth annual conference -of the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation was opened by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. A. D. McLeod) to-day, when more than fifty delegates were present. The Mayor, Mr, W. J. Moffat, accorded the delegates a welcome to Nelson, which Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass and the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. E. H. Thomson supported. Mr. McLeod stressed the need of encouraging the use of New Zclaand-made goods. When vegetables and similar commodities were being imported into the Dominion, it was Obvious there was something wrong. In the annual report the executive expressed appreciation of the manner in which the Labour Department had! sought its co-operation during the year, The secretary had attended several conferences having reference to proposed amendments to the Shops and Offices Act, and, whilst the legislation now in force may not meet with full approval, an advance had been made. Mention was also made of the very definite pronouncement which the executive was able to make relative to the sale of groceries by other traders during such hours as grocers were compelled to close. This unfair competition, which had been the cause of complaints for many years past, caa in a measure now satisfactorily be dealt with, and it behoved individual members of the trade, as opportunity offered, to 'bring under the notice of their respective associations any cases where in this respect the law was being transgressed. The rapid increase in the use of coupon and prize schemes per medium of tho newspapers and other advertising had occasioned much anxious thought, and the executive had not- been lacking in its endeavours to, wherever possible, seek for united action on the part of affiliated associations. It was gratifying to report that at least in one or two instances th© efforts of the executive had met with some measure of success. It had all along been felt that this unsatisfactory method of trading was such that warranted and demanded the introduction of amending legislation by the Government. With consistent persistency the executive had continued to bring this matter under the notice of th© Department of Industries and Commerce, and members would learn with much satisfaction that at last opportunity is to 'be afforded of definite action being taken, the results of which it is hoped wild be given effect to by amending legislation. A sterling tribute was paid to the late Mr. John Henderson, an ex-presV dent of the federation.