HARD TIMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2583, 18 August 1909, Page 5

HARD TIMES.

NOT FELT BY PAWNBROKERS

Although all who come much into contact with the poor of Christchurch state that there is a great deal more genuine destitution now than there has been for many years, the pawnbrokers do not feel it (says the Lyttelton “Times”). Hard times, it may be thought, would be reflected immediately in the pawnbroking business, which might be expected to increase as far as applications for small loans on jewellery and household goods are concerned, but business last month has been slacker than it has been even in the middle of winter for many years past. The proprietor of a pawnbroking establishment in the very centre of the city, told a reporter the other day that his total loans for the month, as far as it had gone, amounted to only 16s. Recently a woman with four little children went in to reclaim some jewellery, an heirloom, which she had pawned on account of her husband being out of work. She had gone too late, as the time had expired, and she could not redeem. She had a somewhat piteous tale to tell; but her case is an isolated oiie. Comparatively few pledges are submitted, and,'on the whole, they aie redeemed promptly and without much difficulty. Another pawnbroker stated that there seemed to be some misconception in regard to the general nature of the business done in his line. In the first place, pawnbrokers, like other business people, flourish in good times, not bad times. The better the times with them the better the trade, and there is always a dullness in the dull months. They do not encourage people to leave unredeemed goods. They want the cash, not the pledges. It seems to be another popular misconception that they rely for most of their business on the very poor and the “wastrels’ 5 of society. According to their own account, however, tins is quite opposed to tlie facts of the case. “We don’t live upon the poor,” one of them said; “we live upon those who have a little property and a little go in them. The poor don’t help themselves; how can they help us? It is people who want small sums of money for business purposes that keep us. The business may bo small, but it is important to those who are concerned in it, and our assistance often leads to greater things, bringing, perhaps, independence, if not affluence. We "ive good money, which is often invested to, good advantage. We are the small man’s banker, and we don’t know what lie would do without us. Time after time we pay his rent. If it was not for us, ho would be turned out into the streets, and ho and his family would be brought faco to face with hardships which are hardly realised now. The money that is obtained from us and spent in drink is absolutely trifling. Three per cent, of the business done would more than cover that kind of thing. We don’t encourage that sort of business. We don’t want it. It is no use to us, and we would be much better pleased if it kept away.”