OUR LETTER BOX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 186, 11 August 1904, Page 2

OUR LETTER BOX.

(We aro not responsible for tho > opinions expressed by correspondents—Ed.) DEBTS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Just at the present time, when money is really none too plentiful, tradesmen will, I think, benefit by th» experience of others with regard to the credit, system. Now, if I mistake not, the bus'ines; man or woman who obliges a customer by giving him credit lor a week or so lias really no legul claim on the amount owing. It appears to me that unscrupulous person* m our own town make a practice of what I call living on us ; as nmny of our tradesmen know to their cost. Dsually this clas(s of customer starts by buying goods and paying cash. Thlis happens three or four times, ajnd making themselves very affable they get into our good graces. Next they ask : " Will you boob some goods, say till the end of the week or month ?" The amount for this lot of goods is usually paid for at the appointed time. Tho noxt transaction is cash ! Next, and generally the last, more booking, but to a larger extont. Thin no cash, and no customer. Tho amount is on our books and likely to be. This, sir, goes on from store to store, all trades Buffering in a like way. Many of these people earn good wages, dress well, and live on the best. Naturally so when It costs them nothing, and it appears that we have no redress at the court of law. in my own humble opinion the case stands! thus—After making repeated application for the amount owing, without of cou'rso any good result, the creditor issues a summons. The debtor (to keep his name out of tho /n-ess, which would at once stop his credit nu others), confesses ; after this comes the judgment summons, when tl.e debtor has to appear to show cause why he should not bo mode to pay. Now comes tho farce. Tho debtor, who has really been saving; the bulk of Wis weekly wage at tho expense of the tradeß, etc., may plead poverty (although being in constant employ), sickness, eU;., and on bath may tell the most outrageous falsehoods to make his case good, is protected by tho law., and the creditor has to pay up and smile. In your issue of the 6lh I, notico a case reported where the magistrate yard that in future, when he has a ease again before him like the one you report, he will seriously consider whether he will make the Judgment creditor pay the debtor's wages for the day the debtor appears at court. Tradesmen, beware:! This may be law ; but Is it justice ? —I am, etc., TRADESMAN. ST. GERMAIN'S SQUARE. (To tho Editor.) Sir,—ln your report of the discussion in the borough council on the exchange of reserves, that is the New Plymouth Borough Council to exchange a part of tho racecourse for St. Gormain Sguare, now hold by the Agricultural Society, the Mayor, Mr H. Cock, said that the agricultural Society could sell the said reserve. It is not so. They cannot sell or mortgage the reserve.—l am, etc., E. METCALF SMITH. I Wellington, August 9.