THOSE PORTRAITS

NZ Truth, Issue 1215, 14 March 1929, Page 7

THOSE PORTRAITS

Some Good Advice

Bona Fide Firms Suffering Through Shady Tactics

POLICE SCRUTINY NEEDED

(From • ' N.Z. Truth 's ' 'Special Wellington Representative)

Recently "N.Z. Truth" drew and framed a picture of grossmisrepresentation often effected by salesmen appointed by! photo enlargement portrait companies.

r\ESPITE the most trenchant attack *-' launched upon the way m which these salesmen bewilder housewives, the vicious practice still exists, and difficulty will be experienced by them m combating the suave and sometimes aggressive .tactics adopted to induce them to sign agreements. ■ There would be little to cavil at m this business, perhaps, if it v/ere carried on m a legitimate manner and a fixed and regular price govex-ne'd the sale of all portrait enlargements. . ■ But this is not. so; with some concerns, or their representatives, the price is fixed according to the circumstances of the person approached. "Where, ' for instance, a portrait is booked to one person for, say, £3, at another house where the family enjoys better financial circumstances,, the price jumps to £5. . The matter of the cost oil the frame also is left to the man who delivers to get what he can for it, but many ■. orders booked are never executed. Photos, are sometimes handed over, which, to the persons concerned, are of incalculable value. With them goes a deposit. Whatever the profit or whatever the. method of these various portrait companies, they must also take the blame for anything their employees do. It has come to the knowledge of this paper that m a number of instances where photos and deposits have been collected, the print has been ruthlessly torn up and nothing further has been heard from the tricky go-getter. Agreements, .. under these circumstances, of course, do not reach the firm's office. Obviously, the warning is: Do not sign any agreement, or part with." a- photograph, unless you are thoroughly satisfied with the bonafides of the concern with whom you are dealing. ( . In giving this advice, "N.Z. Truth" would like«to; point out that there are one or two genuine portrait companies, but if you have any lingering doubt m your mind, and if everything does not seem to be as r it should, take your photos to a local photographer for enlargement. It is well to bear m mind that

genuine firms dealing- m such art work will supply you with the finished article at a reasonable price and at one which will include glass and frame of oak. • . Consequent upon the strictures which this paper published, representations have been made and an "N.Z. Truth" 1 representative was invited to examine the books and studio of one bona fide concern. .. , . . . In this particular instance, the investigator ■■<was; thoroughly satisfied there was no 'unfair exploitation of the public. The. firm .concerned claims to be the oldest portrait enlargers m New Zealand and has been carrying on business .for .'36. years. Morebvei'i it ,was ascertained after careful 'enquiry -that theirs' was a legitimate and, well-conducted business, rendering genuine, service where it was required. "Truth" is satisfied, after . thoroughly going into the matter, that ' their staff of can.vassers is not comprised of the usual type of men engaged m this class of work. . This firm — and no doubt there are other genuine ones — donotcavil at fair competition, but they assert with' some justification that they have to suffer from unscrupulous, competitors claim they represent so-and-so or that they have "acquired" their business. It is this paper's belief that .the general public, more ; , especially that body which is . representative of the farming, classes; could, with a little thoughtful enquiry, learn for themselves the genuine from the spurious. v Genuine firms adv'ocate — and m this attitude they are heartily endorsed by "Truth"- — that some form .of reasonable investigation be made by. the police or some other- constituted authority, into the character and methods of appointees to canvassing staffs. ' Were an authority of this nature exercised and canvassing permits or licenses issued, then half the troubles and annoyances suffered by busy and unsuspecting housewives would vanish. However, until such time as this de-, sirable sfate of affairs exists, all that can be said is: If m the future you are misled by the specious .promises of unscrupulous salesmen, then you have only yourself to blame/. #