The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1889. Chamber of Commerce

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 115, 4 April 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1889. Chamber of Commerce

Fob some time past the business men of Feilding have been quietly considering the position of the Borough and its surroundings, with the result that they have arrived at the conclusion we are not making such rapid progress as might be expected, con* tiidering the remarkable advantages we possess. While we are not disinclined to agree with this view, yet we must express our decided disapproval of any spasmodic efforts being made which would only last for a little tio>e, and which during their then brief term of existence could really do no good if they do but little harm. Some people are of opinion that a Chamber of Ci.m merce in Feildiug would supply " a loug felt want," and be the cause ot unmixed, if of unknown, blessings to one and all. Others, again, are opposed to any aggregation of atoms such as the business people, and others of that ilk, of small towns, assuming such pretentious titles as that of Chambers of Commerce. They - the objectors — hold up Wauganui and Faiinerston as dreadful examples of failure in that connection, and think if townships of such importance and commercial standing cannot preserve Ttality iv their several Chambers of Commerce, it is too much to expect that the less pretentious, but more solid, Feildiug could do so. We neither a#ree with the optimists nor the pessimists, the dyspeptics or the eupeptics. To unit seems the time has now arrived when a combination — no matter much its denominatiuu — should be made among our Joca! professional men, tradesmea, and all employers of labor or other mustermen, for the purpose of giving mutual assistance and protection against careless, uupriucipled, or ditshoaeat persons. The I riaci t &'. evil which has such firm root among us, and which tradesmen are most anxious to eradicate, is the abused credit system. No doubt it is not half so bad as it wab in the early days of this settlement, but still it is I too prevalent yet uot to interfere with and trammel business men who wish to conduct their affairs on upright principles. We are aware that it would be impossible for trade to be I conducted on a strictly cash basis, but there can be no question that in this district, where wages are paid weekly or fortnightly by all labor employers, and where all contractors with public bodies are paid monthly, there can be no possible excuse for longstanding accounts. The secret lies in this, and we cannot do better than quote the words of a tradesman in town who spoke to us on the subject yesterday : " Supposing I apply to a customer for payment of his account — no matter how long it may have been runuing — and press him a little, what is the consequence ? He goes to another shop and gives his custom there. He doesn't pay me until I threateu to sue, when the money is found — seemingly easy enough. In the meantime I have lost a really good customer who is perhaps only careless in his payments because he can get plenty of credit wherever he likes." If, when one store or shop reported quietly to the others that a client's credit was bad, the traders all joiued together and refused the sinner further credit he would be educated into the error of his ways and taught the advantages of the eaah system in a very few lessons. To accomplish this desirable end very little would be required in the way of combination A society might be formed called by any name most agreeable to the majority of the subscribers, and if in the course of time their numbers and commercial importance justified the change, they might assume a more ambitious title, even that of a Chamber of Commerce, but in the meantime the scheme is easily practicable aud only wants starting to epring into vigorous life.