CUT-RATE TRADING

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 7

CUT-RATE TRADING

BLACK LIST PROPOSED.

-oCKLAND SHOPKEEPERS TAKE ACTION

AUCKLAND, November 22

Objection to the growth of cut-rate trading in Auckland was voiced by a number of city shopkeepers last evening at a meeting convened by Mr Harold Schmidt.

The view was freely expressed that legitimate trade was suffering severely, and that the time was ripe for concerted action by the retailers.

Mr Schmidt advocated the formation of a Shopkeepers’ Federation to include manufacturers and merchants and to discontinue the practice of giving bonuses and discounts on the purchase of large amounts. This, he considered, was one of the primary causes of the trouble. He thought efforts should be made to blacklist the cutrate shops, and if these methods failed, similar steps should be taken with the merchants who encouraged them. “The success of' the whole city depends on the success of the individual shopkeeper.” Mr Schmidt said, “if the small retailers are to be forced out of existence and the city is to be run by two or three large stores, the shops will be left empty. The rates will fall off, and there will be an alarming increase in unemployment among shop assistants.” It was decided to form a committee to make arrangements for a mass meeting of city shopkeepers to be held at an early date, when the matter of cutrate trading will be more fully considered, and a decision made on some course of action.