GIFT COUPON SCHEMES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1931, Page 7

GIFT COUPON SCHEMES

$ NEW ZEALAND’S EXAMPLE More tlian ojie trade journal pays, a tribute to New Zealand for passing legislation to prohibit the common “gift” schemes. The following is from the “Draper” : Britishers retailers generally who appreciate the harm which coupon gift -schemes are doing to legitimate trade hail with satisfaction the adoption of the Trading Coupons Bill by the New Zealand House of Representatives which they regard as a good augury for legislative action in this country. The Bill which was passed a few days ago, makes coupon “gift” trading. illegal after April 30th next. We have secured the following representative views of British Baders, which will be read with ,interest not only by ,all shopkeepers, but by the public generally who are also affected by the coupon system:— “The passing of the New Zealand Bill,” said Sir William Perring, a flromer president of the National Chamber of Trade, “is another nail in the coupon coffin.” Public opinion against this pernicious system in Britain, he said, was steadily growing, and he hoped the new Government would take an early opportunity to render impossible all such mendacious attempts to exploit » the many for the few. LEGISLATION the only WAY Mr Patrick Howling, general secret i tary of the National Chamber of Trade said; ‘‘Although a tremendous volume of trade as well as public opinion throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireurid has manifested itself against the speciousness of the yaried schemes under which so-called free “gift” coupons are distributed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the schemes can only be thoroughly eradicated by making them- illegal. “The trade organisations which have been instrumental in promoting voluntary action on general and specific lines feel compelled to recognise that, however intensive their continued progaganda and efforts may be, the instrument of legislation will have to he utilised to complete the work. ' “The news ■ from New Zealand is striking confirmation of the views which aro developing among traders here, anti which were recently crystallised in the resolution adopted at the autumn conference of the National Chamber of Trade that legislation urgently needed in the interests of fair trade and the purchasing public.” SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

Speaking on behalf of the Incorporated Association of Retail Distributors, representing the largest stores in the country, Mr E. J. 13. JJoycl expressed the hope that as poon an polfitical conditions become normal legislation worn! be introduced to stop coupon trading, “Our argument against ‘gilt’ coupon schemes,” added Mr Lloyd, “is that this type of trading is fundamentally unsound. It purports to g : ve away something for nothing, whereas it does nothing of the kind.” Mr Albert Cowie, secretary of the Draper’s Chamber of Trade of the United Kingdom, expressed great satisfaction that in New Zealand legislation is now an accomplished fact. His own Chamber recently decided to support the movement for legislation, and lie trusted that, with the co-operation of all other nat.oiv 1 associations the opportunity would soon arise to bring forward a practical measure here. The Newsagent and Booksellers’ Review is also enthusiastic about New Zealand’s action, and writes: Retailers in the country who recognise the harm which coupon “gift” schemes are doing to legitimate trading will hail with satisfaction the adoption of the Trading Coupons Bill by the New Zealand House of Representatives, which they regard as a good augury for legislative action in this country. In view of the influence this action is likely to have in great Britain, we have secured the representative views of British trade leaders, which will, we are sure, be read with interest by the great majority of the shop keepers of the United Kingdom. Then 'follow the views of a large number of important business men.