CORRESPONDENCE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 33, 11 March 1930, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

"CITIZEN."

UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOYALTY TO ONE'S OWN TOWN.

(To the Editor.) , Sir, — Unemployment is undouhtedly a senous problem at present and there will be more "out of works55 as the Winter approaches. Our thanks are due to Mr Latham, Mr Barnard, M.P , and others Wlio are drawmg the public attention to this matter of finding v/ork for our fellow citizens who are unfortunate enough to be out of a job. But I am convmced, Mr Editor, that there would be little or no- unemploy • ment in Najpier if ^every man and every women would ohly'loyally support their own people, circulate their money . m their own city, and not be so obsessed with the idea that "distance lends enchantment.55 Blinded by the allurement of clever advertising, our people are sending thousands of pounds pei year to the mail order houses . of the larger centres, wliilst tlie ■ old-estab-lislied businesses of this town, employing large numbers of assistants, paying rents, rates and taxes, are iinding it mcreasingly difficult to pay expenses, and many such businesses are being compelled to reduce their staffs. Then there is the "stranger55 within the gates,55 who pays no rates, has no interests of any kind in Napier except to take money out of the town by questionable methods of auctioneering, socalled bankrupt bargain saies, and other means of taking money away, which, if spent here, would keep our own people in employment. Again, why do some of our sports cluhs, supported entirely by the public of the district, see ht to send to other centre* for their tro'pliies P We have had one glaring instance of this quite recently. For variety, quality and reasonahle charges our businesses compare more than favourably wifh any in New Zealand. Visitors are constantly ex pressmg surprise and pleasure when they notethe excellence of our displays. and yet individuals, sports committees and others have some queer, warped ideas that they can get better values elsewhere^ If unemployment is rife "we can largely lay the blame at our own doors, and I put it to our Chamber of Commerce, our Thirty Thousand Club, our Rotarv Club and all who have the mterests of our town at heart, to preach Loyalty to Napier. — I am, etc.,

Napier, March- II*. 193p