Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894. S.P.Q.R.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4672, 17 March 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894. S.P.Q.R.

SECOND edition

THE«fmt|al Populus Que JHomanus at one'time signified to all the world, 'the ruling race which held Bway from the Euphrates to the Pillars of Hercules. Now, the hideous- audacity of the enterprising tradesman would have it represent " Small Profits, Quick ■ .Returns." That the greatness of the old Roman Empire is dwarfed iu magnitude and importance' by the question of tbe cash versus the credit system can be the only, excuse for borrowing the plumage of Imperial Home. The evils of the credit system, like the evils of drink, competition, poverty and all the other perplexing questions that plague Society are patent to every observer, however casual. It is only when some specific remedy is suggested that, bitter controversy arises, Modern democraoy is very intolerant of anything that affliots the body politio, and the cry for drastic legislation is'tfmmediately made, however crude or ill-digested such legislation may be, Patience is unknown and masterly inactivity despised, Every tradesman in'' New Zealand would willingly enforce the.cash system, if it were possible to do so, while the public woujd as willingly adopt the system if they possessed the wherewithal to pay cash for their purchases, Many are the suggestions that i have been made to abolish or mitigate the evils of credit. " Cash " stores, cooperative soifieties, and individual tradesmen hove startedbusiness on the cash system, but too often the attempt has miserably failed, Our Wellington correspondent gave an interesting account of the great stand made by a large firm of grocers in to\vn, They determined to abolish tbe credit system. For some time, we are told, the experiment succeeded fairly well, but times became hard and ready cash was not so plentiful as formerly and regular customers' visits became less frev quent, The latter were then notified that monthly bills would be allowed, In a week the trade doubled, and for tbe first month the.bills were promptly paid, but by degreps they ran into three months andaoroe into six. The cash system was reluctantly dropped, and that firm has to do what every other grocer of standing doss,, it his to give credit or lose its custom! Howfiver much the system is abused (in both sensns of the word) it must undoubtedly be acknowledged that it is a convenience which on]y civilized com- , munities can enjoy, and without it trade and commeroe would become' impossible,' It is ' abused by two olasßes. ' The steady but poor workers of the community, who, I>y misfortune and aooidebt are out 1 of work—they, know not ,foit how ! long—and are' ' compelled, to procure 'fobct and raimenton credit. It is good business I' to'say nothing of kindly'feelings and humanity to, give credit in euch cases, and it is seldom or never refused, If all goes well the debt is shortly liquidated, and both parties-have:partioipflte(limthe.bene< fitß of' tbe credit system, but not infrequently the want of employment or the eickness continues longer than -is anticipated, and.unless \nnd6t eppcial oiroumstancee the amount is ■ never made-ufr Secondly, r.thero: are thoßo who fronTwaut.of-, thought, from tljo exigencies of sooial keep up appearances or ip,orderjio'enjoy more than they can rifn into debts toils, If cortex people ■2? :

in Wellington who m'.' never out ot debt," belonging, w are informed , i mostly to tbo a alaned < uffioiab olaßges.: If J,bis is the case, it says very little ■ for-the honesty; or ovairthe common' sense; of,these,gentry,' but to leoture them would be asfutilo as'it is hackneyed, The only ; remedy W; that tradesmen .should have the', knowledge and ludgment necessary to prevent the oredit being obtained, A proposal, baa been made , which :at least has the 1 met it of thoroughness and • boldness, 1 ; it;is to "abolish the recovery, for debt at law.> When we remember the.-: almost unfailing promptitude.' with: which debts of honour are.paid, it shows what the' combined influences of oustom and' prinoiple can achieve amongst a class of people frequently the most unscrupulous. But not even' the New Zealand Parliament, fond-:'as; jit' vis of experimental and advanced legislation,,would paes suoh a bill, and we thereforo may relegate the proposal to the dim and distant future which has no .hearing ou praotical politioa. But a less sweep- , ing and dtastio measure was aotually introduopd last session by Mr Geo. Fisher, uf Wellington, and he was supported by Mr W. Hutchison, Mr W, Buick, and other Liberals,, The chief provision of the BillVwas "That no rotail tradesmen shall recover i against any person any debt or demand not exceeding ten pounds on account of any'goods supplied by such tradesman to tush person or'upon his credit" If this " littlebill became law, it was argued, with a strange ignorance r of human nature, trade would be oanied, on on a cosh lasi?. By it (he purchasing power of the . people would be increased, There would be happiness where now there.'is misery, and freedom from oarking care where now there is' embarrassment. Messrs Buokland, 'Fish and Hogg scornfully attacked the injustice and orudeness of the proposal, and the mover was apparently too timid to call for a division, -the bill, therefore, being ignominously dismissed, "Of course-said' Mr Hogg with p bluntness which waß doubtless fully appreciated, " membersdid sot get into debt when they contested an election I They were people who paid their way!"' His own opinion, he added, waa thut people had been so long accustomed to credit, so long addioted to oredit that they would, not do without ih .This is true enough. No Aotof parliament, no combination -of tradesmen can alter that custom, whioh the people wish to retain, iteform must come from within. Slowly and lit some future period perhaps the public may insist on cash ia petty transactions. 'lf ever this determination is carried out it will bean inestimable boon, but.no. amount Of petulant carping lamentations over the evils of the system, or childish legislation will be of the slightest service,