THE LONG WINDED PAYER.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 January 1919, Page 3

THE LONG WINDED PAYER.

CREDIT AND THE COUNTRY

STOREKEEPER.

During thirty years woric on country newspapers, /we have had numerous opportunities for noticing the general disinclination of country customers to pay their tradesmen's accounts within a reasonable time after such accounts have been rendered. We have known settlers to run up a score at the local store, and have no thought of paying the account until months have elapsed, but in the interval they would send cash to some big firm in the city for goods, or else call personally and pay cash for a large order, in the belief that they were doing a smart thing in apparently saving a few shillings, yet after freight and cartage had been met would probably find themselves no better off than if they had dealt at home. If a settler paid cash or liquidated his bill at the country store within a reasonable period, he would find it just as advantageous to buy locally as to send away for his goods. The large city firms will not wait for their money, and the customer knows it, but at the same time expects the retail man to wait for months, perhaps for a year, before he thinks of paying. The retailer has to meet his obligations to the wholesale merchants at least every month, or supplies would be cut off; and the customer who does not pay monthly is xeally using the storekeeper's money as well as his goods. The system isn't fair. If a farmer does not get paid for his stock or produce within, say, a month after delivery, what a fuss he would doubtless make with the buyer ! Yet the same man thinks nothing of making his grrocer wait for his cheque. The credit system at present adopted is one-sided.—Press.