PROPRIETORS' NAMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 51, 16 March 1937, Page 4

PROPRIETORS' NAMES

Should Not Be Hidden in Business CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW "Everyone who is !n business should be prepared to have his name known," remarked Mr W. E. Bate at last evening % meeting of the Hastings Chamber oi Commerce when the matter of firms clolaking their identity under trade uamea was under discussion. It was pL-uted out by several members that many business men had suffered through trading with firms which did not disclcie the name of the proprietois. As one member put it, the trouble was thrt such firms changed hands quietly and no-one was any the wiser. "Traders have it in their own hands, of course, to Tefuise credit in cases where they are not sure of the firm with whom they are dealing," remarked Mr Bate, "but of course this is little consolation for the trader who 'falls in.' Everyone who trades in business should be prepared to have his name known, but there may be perfectly good reasons for a man carrying on a business he has bought under its trade name which has built up goodwill.. The remedy seems to be either through enforced registration or insistence on the name of the proprietor appearing on the letterhead. This, however, can be brought about only by legislation or education, and I hardly think we should press for legislation." The matter was allowed to lapse.