Correspondence.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXIV, Issue 4251, 2 March 1921, Page 3

Correspondence.

TOWN v. COUNTRY TRADING. ,':\ . (To the Editor) •' Sir, —Competition is the life of. ' trade, but-unfair competition is murder. Business men do not look 3 for charity, but they expect •• jus- ] tice, and in fairness to the country '' storekeeper, I feel I must give my ] vote hi his favour. I have had varied experience of life in' town ■and-country, and the Ellesmere ] Storekeepers give better satisfaction to their customers than can be obtained in Christchurch or many ' other country districts. In the Auckland province I saved 20 per . cent by dealing with a mail order ' firm in the city, but that was because tlie country storekeeper ' was altogether out of date. As an ; instance, he gave 2-J t per cent dis- . count on a monthly account, but none for spot cash. In South- ' bridge I have "sacked" the Christchurch ,'trayellers, as I can do better by trading locally. Another important aspect of the discussion I would refer to is the cutting of prices in order to kill the competitor. Newly established business men in Leeston and Southbridge have enough local competition to contend with already. It will cost us nothing to give them fair play.—l am, etc. T. G. BUTLER. ;