LOYALTY TO ONE'S TOWN.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 305, 12 September 1929, Page 4

LOYALTY TO ONE'S TOWN.

NEED IN PUTARURU. Why Not a Shopping Week ? Loyalty is one of the cardinal virtues. Most people profess and more or less carry their profession into practice : loyalty to country, class, creed and friends ; but there it stops. One wonders if any thought is ever given to loyalty to one’s town, and apparently this virtue is not practised in Putaruru as much as it should be.

Last week a Putaruru resident informed a Press representative that on a recent Wednesday afternoon (Putaruru’s half holiday) no less than 16 residents were seen in a neighbouring Waikato town making purchases of articles all of which could be purchased in Putaruru. The informant stated that among those doing so were several business people. Now if this is true, and there is no cause to disbelieve the person relating the incident, it reveals a regrettable lack of loyalty to one’s town.

The business people have gone to considerable expense in providing for the needs of the town and they have added to the wealth of the town and country by so doing, and they are entitled to a fair share of return for the outlay of capital involved. No doubt those who shop outside the town do so on the assumption that a saving may be effected, and that a larger choice is available in larger towns. If this were carried to a logical conclusion there would be very few Jowns and the buyers would be at the mercy of the sellers. Even if a few shillings may be saved by shopping outside Putaruru, it is the adoption of a penny-wise and poundfoolish attitude by those who do so, for every penny spent outside the town is tending towards the lessening of the prosperity of the town. It also works to the lowering of the value of the land, for proximity to a progressive town has a bearing on the price of land. Turning to the question of shopping in Putaruru, the local Chamber of Commerce could with benefit initiate a “ shop in Putaruru week.” Other places have held similar functions and they have been highly successful and have been the means of bringing business to their respective towns. With other places outside Putaruru catering for the afforestation employees’ patronage, the business people and the Chamber of Commerce would be well advised to give this question serious thought. Te Aroha and Waihi are two nearby towns that have held “ shopping weeks,” and both were successful not only in creating more business but in creating a better feeling between the business people and the residents. It is to be hoped that at the next meeting of the Chamber of Commerce some thought will be given to this important question. Apparently the need exists.