THE COUPON SYSTEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 2

THE COUPON SYSTEM.

OBJECTIONS THERETO.

PETITION IN CIRCULATION. In. most kitchens, in n convenient corner, there is generally to be found a little nest of coupons, which have been taken either from packets of tea as they have been purchased, or from baking powder of other goods. These coupons the thrifty housewife is saving up, and diligently counts the number yet required to enable her to draw some future prize. Thus she goes on buying that particular brand of article till the prize is won.

Some business people in Wellington are raising ail agitation against this coupon system. A petition is at present in circulation in the city, and will shortly be presented to Parliament. The petition which was seen by a representative of v tlie ‘'Dominion,is largely signed, and most of tho signatories are firms of standing, and representatives of many trades. A similar agitation is proceeding in Christchurch and elsewhere in New Zealand.

The text of the petition, which explains briefly the objections of tlie petitioners to the system as follows :■ — “Tho humble petition of the un-der-signed jewellers, ironmongers, stationers, tea, grocers, crockery, furniture, pictures and fanev goods dealers in the Dominion of Jvew Zealand, showeth—(l) That an Act was passed by your Honorable House entitled the Trading Stamps Abolition and Discount Stamps Issue Act, 1900, lor the suppression of trading stamps and of similar devices for the transaction of business, but owing to an omission the use of the coupons did not come within the scope of such Act. (2) In consequence of such omission, there is being carried on to a very large extent in New Zealand, the practice of packing coupons in packets and packages of tea, baking powder and other goods, and of promoting Limerick and other competitions with the object of inducing tho sale thereof. (3) That the use of coupons in packets of tea, baking powder and other goods gives a fictitious value to the article sold, and militates against honorable competition -and seriously injures almost all trades and businesses whose existence depends upon selling goods which are now being given away by those who resort to coupon trading. (4) That the use of coupons in packets of tea, baking powder, and other goods engenders the spirit of gambling. (5) That in England the promotion of Limerick, and the issue of coupons lias, wo believe, been declared illegal, while in Victoria legislation has been introduced to suppress them.”

_ “Therefore your petitioners pray— That vour Honorable House will pass such legislation as may be necessary to suppress the use of coupons, similar devices, and Limerick competitions in connection with the sale of any goods, as being injurious to honest trading and demoralising to the community.” It is clearly understood that the system objected tq is quite distinct from the "cash discount system, in which the dealer gives the purchaser a discount ticket (from a cash register) for the amount of a cash purchase. This system seems to find favor with all parties. A petition similar to tlie above was presented to Parliament last year.