DIFFICULT YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 13

DIFFICULT YEAR

GEOCEEY BUSINESS

CAPACITY ;,^^--;iGURfAiLED^;:.:

. year, has been, one of .tho;:moat difficult;,both iroin a commerc^i'^and.'^.'/compctitivo ' point of. view,-'.'is vanA eisporiejice with which most/^if^i.ot'jalljsofithose engaged in commercial: pursuits-of various.,,'. kinds will agree, I? feel .sure;" Stated .Mr. J. E. Burley, retiring .president'; of. tho New Zealand. Master, Grocers'- ■Federation; >iw^the Jcourse;- of. his < address .to yesterday's;lw>n£erenco;;v'; ;';:.,-;'/lV > ♦^MoreJJDspedi^i^'does^thisfcappl^to the'■"g.f'^c9ry *;i'^?i'^w'^JS'l>£^Sa^ nS. wit'l tli'erne.c^asane|.'.'St;;iil'ei?is"'-:moro subject than .'-.others to influences such as; those named.^^Tho'^dppressJon is .being keenly felt F by "allas'gctipnsi.o.fsthei scioinmunHy, anff;wiilstjii^|; pslfe^Ws'-^PotaWw'V has;^i>e'en.VsiSguJaltly,:' i ort'u'natefin' that1 her fes6uoe's^a.v£ been 'ample :to meet thp; nwds^f'thislftouiY jetvtiieJinancial barpmet'erihasiitouched.'sueh y*.Tp W, point,; unemiployjn.ei|::Ka^^^-.;sp-'-'wideßpreadj poverty an^?J^rfess?Ss6^ramp'aiit,'_anil th6/"cut ini^wagef*{s6;drastic,:that the spending capacity ;of the- public has been vastly curtailed. That being so, that section of the community engaged in the handling of everyday commodities—rtbe.bre.ad and butter-lines —has !^felt';ihe'strain arid : 'stress|pf.7the times' 'oqualijr- with others. Tho.ywage-earnei1 beingAthe person upon-whorf'^vo are so largely!' dependentMfpriVur|success iv business, anything-JaffScting 'his earning powers';,has a direct^jnfluence ;; upon the, shopkeeper. Whilst the wage-earner has had to submit to a 10 per cent, cut in wages, what of the business man's cut?.i Falling off in tho amount, of his trade turnover j keen price-cutting, bad debts ineuMed in business, and a multiplicity of shops seeking to cater for the needs of the public, have resulted in many cases in a very much greater cut in income than the 10 per cent. Indeed, it Is not ovoTstating facts to say that a 25, per cent, cut is nearer-the mark. Vet very little is heard by the public .of this factor, and-whilst all sorts of expedients are being formu■lated as a panacea to remedy tho ills oi unemployment, and to help those whose spending capacity- has been curtailed for various reasons, little, if anything, is ever done to assist those more ;directly - engaged- in' -commercial '^pursuits, who are left. ,t0..; shoulder the: own responsibilities, and to fight their battles as best they may. Much assistance might bo afforded if price, fixation became a recognised principle." ''■;;,,. ~ Mr. Burley referred to the effects oiNcompetitipn.by "chain stores,?',: andcriticised the?' Arbitration Court ;itt ; the ■policy .'i^hadtadopted:'^'in- s conrie'c.tio.n.. !with-^ Suiiaay •'.JabourSjaiud unrestricted 'hours, of work^asfar^as "chain store" :brari'ch^BVanagersv..w^