“ CASH ON DELIVERY ” SYSTEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1925, Page 3

“ CASH ON DELIVERY ” SYSTEM.

NEW ZEALAND TRADERS HINDERED. CHI! iSTCI 1(' ECU. Dec. 17. Indignation is being expressed by a iiumher of Chrisiclnircli drapers and lain! merchants at the laei lit ie , which Ihe pest Olliie alf.ir.Ts to linns in lirilnin and on the Continent Lo do business mi the ‘-cash on delivery" system. bill which are denied liiiu.s > .iri '.- ing on business in New Zealand. Tile manager of a large city drapery fimu -.luted yesterday that ihere was a tendency, especially on Dm \\ esl Coast of Dm South Island, to purchase poods I tom overseas on this system. It was very interesting to note Die facilities oll'cred I y Dm Postal Deoartnielli for this type or irade. Ihe Department will deliver the parcels to examined. and. if satisfactory, will collect Die value. If they are not satislnctorv Die Department will repack the ,e, aud ret ur n l limn t o ('teat Ihi taij i. tie- whole of this service being given free to the supplier, the only lieiue the postage and the re-t-irn post age if net I'soiry. New Zealand traders were not allortl- ,.| these privileges. he ad'led. ami he pointed out that the outside suppliets took the profit and contributed mbht tit: to the revenue nt the miiutry in the wav of income tax., land lax nr local taxes. ‘-When the Post Oflice H asked to wive this service to us." he -aid ■•it says that it i- hwni-.'V ‘if sumo agreement in Madrid -ir some other postal service, hut, nevertheless, it is a weird kind of justice." ••The biggest supporters nt this .system are those who live in l lie coal tninintt centres and similar places. he added. '"They are so li '.I up in the interest of their own country in getting legislation Ini' themselves and tlieTr friends that they see to it that the good money that they earn in this country is sent to keep won-cts itt an-

other country." Tlmse who are in the lines nt trade most affected do mat consider that it is likely to reach any dimensions in Christchurch, whole there are such large ranges of material ami the prices are so competitive, but it i- stated mat the smaller traders in the country districts are imi getting a tair (leal. Three-ptiarters of tliis trad.- is done with people in Creymouth and Westport and the explanation i- giw'tt that a large mimber n| these people are immigrants.

It is also urged that the Customs att’herities s'e-ml.l he careful to see that jije-e goods are invoiced eorreetly. and that the correct duty is charged. A statement lias been made, which. it correct. goes to show that the Customs Department is more lenient with direct importers as mein Iters of the general public than with traders. The chief objection that the traders have to this class of business is that it allows outside firms to ston ill and cet trade while they are denied the opporutn.it v el getting nil the same t, a sis a.s the outside firm. It the postal authorities would allow New Zealand merchants to eater for business on a “cash on delivery" basis, in rite same manner as they allow British and foreign mail order businesses to do. many feel 'that there would be little to object to in this class of business,