GLIB-TONGUED GO-GETTERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 1

GLIB -TONGUED GO-GETTERS

♦ : Airy Platitudes of Empire Trade That Tend To Impress (From "N.Z. Truth's" South Auckland Representative). Readers of "Truth" are cautioned against certain glibtongued salesmen who are stumping the country selling household goods under the guise of performing an act of patriotism by fostering inter-Imperial trade. .■■_.-.]

THESE canvassers are very active m the Auckland province, the headquarters of this so-called patriotic concern being situated m the Queen city. A copy of the typed instructions issued to these agen.ts, and which they must memorise and repeat glibly before they are allowed oh to the road has come into the hands of "Truth." They read thus:— "On presenting himself at the door the agent, must say: " —is my name. I am resident representative m ■ for the whole of my district. "You have read, I suppose, the trade advertisements, 'Buy British Goods,' 'Support your Empire/ and all that sort of British trades propaganda. Well, this year, the Home manufacturers, working together, have issued within the three Dominions. Canada, Australia and New Zealand, a spe.cial trades advertising campaign that I am representing here m this district. "At this point a,«ent must gain admittance. Sales talk once inside must be thus: — "Now, madam, before shoAving you the special offer I would like you to thoroughly understand the reason you are being ; visited under this trades

■ campaign. Firstly, this is an offer being made at home factory cost, eliminating the seven middlemen — wholesaler, warehouseman, importer, indentor, exporter, buying agent and retailer — also buying, agent over the other side; and is actually made to you at home factory cost as an advertising : offer." '. The New Zealand Government, he tells his clients, is also doing its bit by allowing these goods m duty free, and says it. is costing the New Zealand Publicity Office exactly £3/17/6 to place each finished article m the homes of the people. It would thus be readily realised, he proceeds, that all outside profits were entirely cut out and that genuine British goods were, therefore, available at a fraction of their usual cost. No one is authorised to solicit payment of any kind for services on behalf of the New Zealand Publicity Department. No canvassers are employed by the Department, and accredited representatives of the Department are armed with credentials and badges. We v would Warn readers, therefore, : against , allowing these glib-tongued knights of the road, to -pull the wool i pyer their eyes, and against getting i their feet inside the door. l Their goods are m most Cases like i their conversation — artificial.