“ NOT ALL ROGUES.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 11

“ NOT ALL ROGUES.”

To tilt Editor. Dear Sir, —I would like to reply to “Annoyed” and also to vour leader in last night's paper. Forst o fall “Annoyed” places all callers at her house as hawkers, who. as a rule, buy goods and resell them at an enormous profit, or manufacture polishes and medicines, etc., quite worthless, and palm them off as Vicing wonderful products. Surely “Annoyed” can differentiate them and pick the hawker class from the salesman. Many of the men calling on people in their homes to-day represent reputable firms, and handle the goods they are selling in a business-like manner, and not by intimidation and false representation. As a rule, such men are only too glad to make night calls, to go back and talk over their proposition with the husband. In fact, many salesmen like to do business this way, for resultant business is always good business. Unfortunately the tricksters and impostors are very numerous, but that is no reason why a!1 household callers should be classed alike as rogues and scoundrels. If some of the house-to-house salesmen make themselves a. nuisance, then so do some newspaper “Ad.” salesmen, who call on shops and business people. Absolute pests, some of them are. yet they are merely selling their goods. A lot depends upon the mood of the person upon whom one is calling. Some people are natural “grouches.” However, I do believe that all “dintoum” salesmen and canvassers would welcome some scheme whereby, for a small sum, a badge would be issued by the council upon one or two conditions. The most important would be that the salesman must represent a reputable firm, and sell recognised articles, tested and approved by the council. It would be a protection both to the householders and the salesman. If house-to-house selling were absolutely prohibited, as you propose in your article, more men would be added to the unemployed. Why not try to prevent circulars being sent to the houses? I feel certain that. “Annoyed” is one of the very few “people” I might almost say “ladies” who, before a fellow can say "Good-morning,” says “Not to-day,” and slams the door in your face. So polite! I always feel so sorry for such ignorance.—l am, etc., “COMMISSION.”