IS THE FARMER A BUSINESS MAN?

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2908, 21 October 1916, Page 10

IS THE FARMER A BUSINESS MAN?

In Wellington recently a number of commercial travellers were discussing the above question, and one of them, n, travelling salesman for a new lighting sj-stem lor country homes, claimed that tlie average farmer is very much a business ,man, and to illustrate his argument stated that he recently approached a leading sheep farmer in the Wairarapa, with the object of inducing him to have a "Wizard" Lighting System installed in his house. The house was already equipped with acetylene plant, which had cost over £15, and had been .in use less than two years, while 'a '.'Wizard" Plant to replace it would cost about ,£45. On hrst thought the idea of scrapping such an expensive plant did not appeal to tho farmer. as being "good business," but on looking up accounts, and going into figures regarding running costs, he found that the carbide used during the past year just cost -£57, whiie one of tho farm - hands spent from 30 to 60 minutes each day cleaning and filling the carbide-trays, and attending to the generator. If the same number of rooms had been lighted for the same number of hours with "Wizard" Lamps the cost of petrol or benzine which is used to make the gas would have been about .£lB, and the "Wizard" lamps would have given between two and three times the amount of light;besides which the services of the farm hand for from half an hour to one hour each day would have been saved, as one minute every second day is sufficient to keep a "Wizard" Plant in order. This farmer had given largely to patriotic funds, and had spent a lot'of money during the year on farm improvements, and on first being approached informed'tho salesman that he did not feel that he could afford to make the change, but after satisfying himself that the traveller's and his own figures were correct, he stated: "In this case it is not a matter of I can't afford to purchase a 'Wizard' System, but I can't afford not to buy because an outlay of .645 will make a saving to me of at least £$i each year, and I do not know of any other investment which could show such returns; the purchase of your 'Wizard' Lighting System is a profitable investment, not an expense.'' This is the way a Teal business man always looks at an outlay of money, and ho always asks himself, "Can 1 afford to be without it?" That the salesman in this, case was not overestimating the savin" by using "Wizard" Lamps instead or acetylene Is proved by the following letter received by Messrs. Early Bros., 59 Cuba Street, Wellington, tho Sole New Zealand Agents, from Mr. Seifert, Flaxmill Owner, Palmerston North. This gentleman is apparently a shrewd business man, and keeps a careful track of all expenses incurred in connection with his business, and it will be seen that in this case tho saving in running cost was sufficient to pay for the total cost of tho plant twice over in one season: — Dear Sirs,—Wo take great pleasure in letting you know that, the "Wizard" Lighting System you installed in our flaxmill at Kairanga has been used continuously during the past season for supplying light for tho night shift. Careful accounts have been kept, and we find that it has cost us just .£l2 10s. for benzine, mantles, and globes, while in previous seasons when acetylene gas was used our lighting bill was never less than J370. The plant has therefore paid for itself twice over in tho one season. Besides this, our mill has not had to be Btopped once on account of the light failing to burn, while in previous seasons a stop had to be made every night to recharge ' the acetylene generator. You may make any use you wish of this letter, and we would bo pleased personally to recommend your lamps to anyone requiring first-class artificial light.—Yours faithfully, (Signed) Walter Seifert, Paimerston North. No country resident or storekeeper can afford to put off purchasing a "Wizard" Lighting System, and should write at once to Messrs. Early Bros., .59 Cuba Street, Wellington, for particulars and prices. The New Zbaland Government is having "Wizard" Lamps installed in all new country post offices, etc.—(Published by arrangement.)