Prevalence Of Hawkers

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 3

Prevalence Of Hawkers

(To the Editor) Sir, — I was interested to -read "Housewife's" letter in. your columhs on. Tuesday evening regarding the number of hawkers who are ;permitted to wander the streets of Shannon. She is to be congratulated on. bringing - the ' matter before the public. Not only are the many hawkers becomlng a nuisance; but their ■ lack of courtesy when a refusal to buy- their multitude of wares is given is alarming to the housewives who are mostly alone in the house. It is to be noted' that they do not make an appearance when the menfolk. are around. - Almost daily one reads in the newspapers of women being attacked by strangers appearlng at their doors under the guise of hawkers, arid we have been told by the chief of police that crime m this country is high. I understand that a ■hawker's licence can be obtained from the local council for 2s 6d, a very small sum indeed as compared with the rates, . wages, taxes and other overhead expenses paid by the business people of Shannon. Is it not a fair thing that our business people should » be protected from unfair eompetition by hawkers? Another point is that with the large amount of goods which are stolen from ships, the housewife cannot be certain that she is not buying stolen goods. ' Perhaps our council would consider increasing the licences of these gipsies to say, an annual fee of £25. This would keep the peddlers of cheap-jack rubbish out of the borough and make it a better and safer place for the womenfolk of Shannon. Yours etc., "ANOTHER HOUSEWIFE." Shannon, Ju'ly 14. Sir, — "Housewife" certalnly raise'd a matter which needs attention. Hawkers are becoming a great nuisance in this town and one cannot mow the lawn or clean the windows without being approached and told that the mower needs sharpening, or that "so-and-so" gives a brighter gloss to windows, motor-cars or false teeth. Another product gives relief from colds, or .can be used as a perfume, and to clinch the sale we are told that it is good for man or beast. The same ol'd story is given the "new look" by the enterprising young man who can equip you with anything from working clothes to a dress suit. Hawkers may be alright to-the country people who shop every week or so, but to us living within the borough and with respectable shops to patronise, the hawker is out. We have an enterprising council. Let them clear our streets of the cheeky hawkers. Yours etc., "MOTHElR OF SIX." Shannon, July 14.