THE MODERN CHEAP JACK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 14, 18 January 1904, Page 2

THE MODERN CHEAP JACK.

A St ral'i'oitfl travles-man bus a grievance? the press for pu'ljl-ishinig sbateiiMits as to the prosperity of the district. Kvery time the newspapers publish the fact that the d-airy Sactories in the district are laying <*ut large wans for milk, says tbis gentleman, the auction rooms aiv flooded with consignments of clueaj) alnjd shoddy goods from the largv centres, amd Llie settlers attend the sales ani'd purchase llvis stujl' in preference to dealingwith the local Uiaidesmen, who han-die a better class of goods. it is lather unfair to blame the newspapers for drip. Surely it is not a crime to praise one's own locality, the seconi:! part of the complaint, with regard to the "dumping" oi cheap goods into the town, whiich. we presume, includes the visits of the itinerary vtenMors, is- one 11-at deserves coiis-idieratio'n. Atfalni, the tault does mot lie witih the newsipaper, I .''. it with the pulblic. Travellißnj auctioneers, with a stock of miscellaneous odds and ends of drapery, cutlery, and other goods of a more or less 'ilowbtful .quality, take a s-hoi> for peihaps a few days, ainid are sown nisilved by the barguin.-h,unters. Advertising well, these firms attract numeroius buyers for their mediocre stuff, antd when they -lm,ve gathered in all the cash that seems to ll>o immediately available, Uvey "flit," and repeat the process in some cither town, whore -there are people foolish enough to he gjulk-d into believing that they are saving money. It is manifestly unfair to the tradesmen who are permanently established in tile town, for these same Ibur-Knvm-lumters who eivgerl.v await, the advent of lib' "Chea:f>-.)iack" are t.he people wluo so often need accomiiioil'ation from the local tradespeople in obtaining credit. They buy on credit from their own regular stores aifd speniJ their custli amongst those firms of cheap auctioneers, who in most cases have bought tup a lot of ruii<Wijh and a little stuff of fair quality, mud havitug procured an auctioneer's license, proceed to tramp tlve country. It seems Jquite plain to coimivonscnse people »hat the travelling di'ulper cannot compete w'it-h his established rival. 1„ tlve first place lie is un-alble to buy in audi aitiva'iito(pjeous markets, ami' also has only secorra-dass or thirdclass gicwls to soil. Then his expenses for travelling are vei-v heavy and the cost of carrying stocks from towni to town is an rnddilio-nal expense that is not incurred by the oidinury slh«pkee|>er. Then. the cost, of living in the manner oi travellers is very heavy, and rentals are -deai- wJwu the period of occupation is sfluort. Tlve local trarlesmen Wave the best irf it, a -ntd we like to see our townspeople i c-cotginri.'x l tiiis by ftccoivling them full Whatever monov is made by the local tradesmen' j'„ spent locally, whilst the travelling gentry grow fat upon the cash of various towns, and then return home to spend it. " New Plymouth lor tlx! New Plymouth people " is not a bald motto, so Oar as this aspect of business is concerned