“BUY IN YOUR OWN TOWN."

Shannon News, 16 October 1928, Page 2

“BUY IN YOUR OWN TOWN."

POPULAR FALLACY CORRECTED. In the course of an interesting and timely speech at the Poston Chamber of Commerce’s , social evening on Friday, Mr M. B. Bergin, a local solicitor, proposed- the toast of “Commercial Interests.” In doing so' he touched incidentally upon the need for local patriotism; his remarks in this respect, are applicable to Levin with equal force. .

After a reference to the doubters who were always decrying their town and its prospects and resources, Mr Bergin said the bare truth was that they were excellently catered for today. “We have a splendid line of retail and trading establishments supported by the necessary adjuncts of the Press and financial institutions and we have in our midst business men of the highest integrity ready and ..willing? to serve us if we "will but give them the opportunity and support.” The public was frequently callous in availing themselves of the* services and advantages offered by their commercial men without giving one moment’s consideration to the difficulties under which they were labouring. Too frequently the idea was prevalent that, so long as the business man was paid the minimum in money he should give in return the maximum in goods, courtesy and attention. Seldom indeed, did citizens ■realise the benefits conferred upon them by their commercial men. It was a matter for regief that they had for some time been adversely affected by motor traffic. Residents in our own district had been motoring to nearby towns and patronising outsiders and while we concede to every man the right to deal Where he wished he would suggest .that he had a duty to his own town and ventured to say that the individual w)ho deliberately neglected his own town was capable of neglecting his own country and he would remind him that patriotism was" not confined to countries and continents. If our own commercial men could not cater adequately for our wants, which he hesitated to affirm, it was because they did not receive our loyal co-operation and support. The people who believe that they were saving money by motoring far and wide to transact their busk ness were living in a fool’s paradise. Motoring cost money, and' somebody was paying the piper. He had noticed recently that the Press had brought under the public notice the national fire loss suffered annually in New Zealand through fires originating from negligence and carelessness. Regrettable as* that loss was it paled into insignificance when compared with the wanton Waste and extravagance of time and money involved in unnecessary travelling to larger, towns under the delusion that their . shops were filled with bargains. He hoped that this pernicious practice was merely a passing phase which had already attained its zenith and is now upon the wane.