The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1929. THE COMPETITIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1929. THE COMPETITIONS.

The Competitions which are now well on their way are again providing a pleasing intellectual festival for the town and district. The annual event lias been a progressive success since its reorganisation some four years ago.

Each year has seen a material improvement in the entries and work, till now the record,, is at.Jts best., yet. This is encouraging for the' reason'that it means ,Jiave.Jivgcl ..up to .thV-f ideal iritefklecl ;'fow Uli'em. They are intended,primarily as a means for mutual improvement, and that result is , being, attained. The Competitions are designed to encourage and bring out latent tajents, and to have not only an improving effect on the minds of the competitors, but also on the community as a whole. The folk are brought into touch with the thoughts and efforts of composers and authors, and there is an elevating effect from -such companionship. Minds are broadened, and tilled with fresh lines of thought, and we are all better able to dream dreams which are castles in the air, the home of .new thougiits and fresh actions to carry us through life. In other words, the brighter side.is brought more to the surface, and competi or and auditor aliice become a student at the feet of the author whose work for the moment may be the subject of treatment. In that way knowledge is gained and (thoughts fashioned, for new experiences. The Competitions are essentially of community value, and as such are appreciated greatly. That, is manifest in the public interest shown. The large attendance and the keenness with which proceedings are followed, show that lessons are being learned, and memory stored with pleasing happenings. The festival, therefore is of special import, and it is so popular, alike with the competitors,, who are the foundation of the good work, and the public, who in the ultimate receive such good value. The town must be the better for these annual functions, and in that connection local literary clubs .are carrying on good work in the interim keeping alive the spark of competition, and in their immediate circle doing as much for the good of the community as the Competitions do in. a wider way for the larger circle reached at such a festival as the present. Nor, need the public be ashamed of the latent Client which,,is being brought out. It is due to the teachers to say that they have accomplished good work, but unless the native talent was there, and the. real interest taken in the work of individual improvements, the results could hardly be gratifying as they a r e. It is very satisfactory indeed to find from time to time that the district can emulate other parts in those social amenities which count so much for the real happiness of life. A healthy and sound mind is ' developed by Competition work, and anv value the individual derives is reflected upon the community in due course, so tint flic whole motive and result is uplifting and of the great public advantage. It is to be hoped that the success rogis'ored already will be continued. The local Society has had great encouragement in its work, and the present season will help to make the future operations equally progressive. ,Thp ; management lias shown enterprise in the wm;k in hand and that spirit has helped the

►society all through. But the encouragement derived has justiiJed the policy, and it will be maintained no doubt, the public, too, are to be congratulated on the measure of popular interest displayed in the proceedings, and their liberal patronage has been most helpful in creating that atmosphere of encouragement which has assured the success achieved to the pleasure and delight of all. “Ckedit is one of the greatest assets a business can have, ft builds trade, it builds confidence, it builds goodwill, and it transforms a casual cash customer imo a regular customer.’’ So said Mr F. G. Baskett, a prominent Auckland business man, in the course of an address to members of the Creditmen’s Club at their fortnightly luncheon. Mr Baskett said cash customers were not the best class of customer a firm could have. There was no given regularity in their purchases. Cash buyers usually- took the snips that were offering, and bought just where the whim, of the day took them, whereas, a, credit customer formed a habit of going into the store where his credit ac ount was opened, and there he bought practically all his necessaries. Credit meant belief in one another, and in one very important sense the progress of society had consisted in the increase of the reliability of its members. If we could not trust one another, our modern ..civilised bociety could not hold together even for a single week. Trust, the confidence that promises would be kept, that engagements would he met, that contracts would be fulfilled, was the essence ; of our, modern industrial society. It would hardly be possible to exaggerate, the effects of this purely mental, accessory to production; the advantage .that it was to mankind to be able to . trust one another pene-. trifted into every crevice and. corner of tiie human life. The economical was perhaps .the smallest part of it, yet even this was incalculable. The best asset a man could have in his business was the trust reposed in him, that was his reputation for promptly meeting his obligations. The failure to meet obligations was seldom the result of dishonesty, it was more due to lack of business ability than of any intention to avoid obligations. Those who occasionally met round the table at a creditors’ meeting would, he thought, admit that in the majority of cases, the man whose, affairs .they had come to consider, was what one might describe as a respectable member of society, and not in any sense dishonest or lacking a proper sense of his responsibilities. The qualifications of a credit manager should he many and varied. He should he courteous and approachable, as it was with him that the client usually made his first contact. He should be, above all, a student of human nature. In the interviewing of prospective clients one .could often form a correct impression as to their-integrity or ability in • the first few minutes of the discussion. He should be calm in disposition, sound in judgment, with a thorough knowledge of his business. He must have thorough accountancy training in order that he could understand and appreciate all the various items in a balancesheet.