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Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1926, Page 2

goods by mail to tlio exclusion of business being done by local traders in the ordinary way. The oversea trade with British firms is very considerable, and it is a remarkable fact that the West Coast of this Island is the chief customer for the postal trade. According to a return given out. by the Postal Department, of 4,380 oversea parcels for New Zealand over a period of twelve months. 2400 (or more than half) were for West Coast districts. It will !e seen, therefore, that a very considerable volume of trade is done between the Coast and overseas, and as we are a small community, that amount of trade is having an adverse effect on local business. But shopping by overseas mail is not the only leakage affecting the local trade. There is shopping by post with all the chief centres where leading firms in various lines eater specially for such trade, and encourage it by circulating advertising matter which attracts the business referred to. This class of trade is likely to increase rather, than decrease, and the local traders who may be feeling the affect of the competition should make a move to counteract it. Cooperation would be helpful, and by judicious advertising the local business people would be aide to some extent to stem the adverse tide. It is rather a fact that the local business people are not free advertisers. They enjoyed a local trade in former times which flowed in without special effort. But those days are past. The isolation which was a protection in trading matters has gone and it is being realised that on the Coast where so much wages are being paid out. there is the opening for a cash on delivery trade not equalled in many other localities in the Dominion. Seeing, therefore, that there is competition for the local trade, those established here would find it worth while now to combine in a progressive advertising campaign, to push their wares, and keep the stock and prices under the notice of the public. That is pays to advertise is a well-known phrase, and the local people could well afford, at this juncture to put it into practice.