CASH ON DELIVERY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5034, 1 October 1926, Page 3

CASH ON DELIVERY.

POSTAL SYSTEM CRITICISED. FAVOURABLE TO THE-PUBLIC. The cash-on-dejivery parcels, system h.as been the target lately for a good deal of criticism in certain quarters. It furnished the subject matter of a letter from the Manufacturers’ Association, whiich came before the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening (says the Otago Daily Times). The cash-on-d.e-livery system provides, for the collection by the post office, on 'behalf of the sender, from the persons to whom they are addressed, of the value of articles contained in parcels exchanged between New Zealand and Grea,t Britain and Ireland. The system enables a person in New Zealand to order goods from the Old Country or a person in the Old Country to order goods from New Zealand, h,ave them despatched by pacel post, and pay for them oh delivery. That it offers facilities wihch a,re appreciated by people in New Zealand, and, particularly, for some reason or another, by the people on the West Coast, has been proved in figures that have been published relative to the value of articles coming into the country in this way. The Dunedin Manufacturers/ Association and kindred organisations in other centres view the system with disfavour, presumably because they consider that it tends to encroach upon their own particular sphere of operations. It is urged that it is saving a serious effect primarily on the retail traders, and through them oh merchants and ■manufacturers. But it is apparent that it is. precisely because the cash-on-de.livery parcels system is attended with advantages, to the general public on this side of the world that it is now encountering this opposition; and the question arises whether section all interests, td wit those, of retailers, and perhaps, merchants and manufacurers, in New Zealand, should prevail over the interests,of the people as a whole. So far as New Zealand firms are able to use the system thmnsejves in respect of goods sent by them out of the. country on ,a Cash-on-delivery basis they will no doubt recognise its convenience. At a; recent meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce a discussion on the question ended in the passing of a resolution favouring the extension of the cash-on-delivery system to! New Zealand’s internal trade. That is a reasonable attitude to adopt. The Dunedin. Chamber showed discretion in not committing itself to) anything definite with respect to the communication fr6m the Manufacturers’ Association.