"BOOSTING" NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 152, 14 November 1912, Page 6

"BOOSTING" NEW PLYMOUTH.

To the Editor. Sir.—l have read with considerable inI rest tlie doings of some of the prominent citizens of New Plymouth in forming a boosting committee. Personally, I think tliey are altogether on the wrong track when they suggest advertising in the outside papers. There's a proverb that says ''Charity begins at home," or some such homely words;,and I should suggest, instead of throwing this £3OO away on advertising in other centres, you should first of all start in the centre of this town. Before going any further with my growl, I don't want your readers to think I'm a croaker, because I am not. and enclose my ninne fo" you to judge for yourself; and when anyone, especially an outsider, says, "How's things?" I usually reply "Tip top," or something of that kind. I said just now that the advertising should commence in New Plymouth, and will explain how I would do it. First ,of all, I would send circulars to, say, the doctors of the town, asking them to get their suits, etc., in the town, and to persuade their good wives to make their purchases locally. Then circularise the hotel-keepers, all the professional men, the bankers, the auctioneers, and their respective wives; for hundreds of pounds go yearly from the town,, which could easily Temain here. Last, but not least, Messrs. The Boosting Committee get out special typewritten letters. I can put you on to a firm in Pitt street, Sydney, who do this sort of thing very well, and post them to each other, for some of them are the biggest sinners of the lot. Plain talk, but perfectly true,, and you know it. I don't want to weary you, but I will

give you an example of what I mean. Two of your committee, I am told, waited upon a tailoring firm, soliciting subscriptions for "boosting" New Plymouth. One of them (the tailors wcrn't quite sure if it didn't apply to both) had on ■ a suit that was made —well, not in New Plymouth, not even in New Zealand, and the other recently spent hundreds of pounds outside New Plymouth on goods that could have easily been made here, and made just as well, if not better, than the city bought goods, for there are several "firms here doing this particular class of goods : very well. Of course everyone is quite at liberty to buy where he or she likes, but still it would help the town wonderfully; if • these people were more loyal to themselves, for that is what it amounts to, as every pound spent out of the place is so much loss to us in wagcs.lessening, the spending power of the New Plymou'tli people. How many of those attending the meeting the other night send out of the town for goods? How many stopped to consider how : much they could leave in Devon street, instead of sending it to Queen street or some other outside street? Fifty or sixty of you get together some night, and each one quietly drop into a box . ■ the amount you give to outside firms that could have been, profitably spent : with your local: firms. Get someone to total it up, and the result will surprise \ you. Between you and me, Mr., Editor, some months ago I attended a meeting J of an association formed to look after I things in general, and New Plymouth in : J particular. We had. • a splendid time, 1 elected the Mayor and councillors, seti tied whether we : should have electric trams, or bullock waggons, or some other form of carrying ourselves and a few others to our quiet suburban homes after work. I forget which mode we settled upon, but if I remember rightly the ayes had it, In fact, we got along ' swimmingly, and the chairman, a very nice man, mind you, and, if I may use ' a vulgarism in your estimable paper, a ( i rattling good speaker. He spoke at con- '■'' siderable length of the advantages of '. advertising our town, and advised us, the young men, to waken up and advance the ; town, until I felt myself quite carried sway by his enthusiasm, and commenced throwing out my chest, thinking of what we were going to make of our nice little town, but in the middle of it- I happened to see the label on his overcoat,-the one on his coat, implying that these worthy garments were made by or some other iski of some town, somewhere (no free ad. in this paper). This damped my -enthusiasm slightly, because, in" my , parochial way of looking at things, I ! said, "There's almost a tenner gone to some town or other that might have remained here"; but the.climax came when, to emphasise a point, he brought his fist down on the table, bang on the top of his cap, made specially for a firm ijot in New Plymouth. Fortunately for me, I have a keen sense| of humor. But don't you think it's rather galling to the man selling photos 'or-furniture or drapery or any other.'thing,. >to think, when he's quaffing his modest pint at the hotel, or paying a ra'ther "stiff fee to his doctor /for attending his children during the mumping (good word, ■ that) period, or perhaps paying a'cheque to his. solicitor 1 for some work or other, to know for a. certainty that,: said cheques or money would be slipped into -a pair of breeches made by some other c«ap living in Timbuctoo_ or somewhere, or possibly, if'he's a furniture ,man, .queer--chaps, these furniture men, he would not like to be asked to take. •«. seat in a chair-made in Auekknd, say? Therms one good point about our wealthy citizen,?, if they don't buy many 1 of' their goods' in tfew Plymouth, they certainly, do get their hair cut in Devon St. : Don't be- down-hearted, you worthy hairdressers, they do support you. Of course, wfacivyau come to think of it, they can't help* themselves. And that's just the..way of,it.; "' "; ; The home; trade:.;"isr ; always"the" "best, the easiest to. toVbe' the easiest -to get;., M After -ife-.Booste-rel The Mew Plymouth scarpenter,. uphold isterer, cabinetmaker,,, - f or- -any ~-other,: tradesman, is quite capable of' holding, his own with .the; best -tradesmancity; but what, chance- ,dpos-- r Ask Devon street who t tjKj> : por.fs \tJ' the: average,, 8s to 10s per day; rhcTs.tlte man that keeps the ball rolling. .'.He's /thV most' loyal of the'lot, spending his money where he earns it, recognising that his fellow townsmen "are quite, as capable of turning out as good as he himself is, 1 don t think this, quiet little growl:of mine mil do- any good; ;I don't expect it to; but I 'do h6pe that' when our Boosting Committee have that £3OO a year up their sleeve, 'they'll adopt a few' of my suggestions, 0r,., better still, put another £loo'a year orr to'it'and give a jpb to yours truly.—l am. etc., -SUNNY JTM.