SHARP PRACTICE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1921, 21 April 1880, Page 3

SHARP PRACTICE.

The following story from " Passing Notes " in the Otago " Witness," is not without its parallel in other cities than Dunedin: -" Competition is generally admitted to be a good thing, but when it ia carried beyond a certain point it becomes, to say the least of it, unpleasant. A species of mild terrorism has been devised by an ingenious local insurance- agent. Having eDJoyed for a considerable period the monopoly of the insurar.co business of a certain firm, whom I shall call B, tho said insurance agent, who for the nonce shall be A, wes suddenly disappointed to find that B had defected and gono over to another offica ; he thereupon, ' Eijjer hearted as a boy when first he leaves his father's field,' put on his hat and waited on B to give him a ' bit of his mind,' and to remonstrate with him as to the enormity of bio conduet in taking business away from one office to give to another without rhymo or reason. A, not prevailing, after much vehement rhetoric, then departed, ard paid a viait to his banker, who happened to be also B's banker. ' Here's an uuhoard of thing,' says the too ardent insurauce man; ' B i-< taking awry liia insurances from us una giving them to that wretched . Y u must speuk to hJrn.' Whereupon 0, the banker, sends a notp to B, requesting him to call. Fearing something might bo wrong, B goes down to his banker poiit-haMe, and is then informed that it's nothing of importance, only A had been speaking about tho insurances and asking his intervention ; ' couldn't interfere, vou knew, only promised to speak about it,' &o , &.c. I imagine tho Sna'e after the episode, and that our friend B mentally, if not orally, ejaculated, ' Ho be ,' and left with a relieved mind, but with a eaddened wor.der that such things could go on in a civilised community. I hare heard of insurance agents sitting all night on a door-step to get a particular ' lino,' and have no doubt tho social amenities are cultivated with tho same end in view ; but to got ' at ' a man through his banker is a little too rough, and might l»ad aome day or other to a breach of tho peace.'