The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-06-09
MERCHANTSD|SCUSS
PENNIES AS change
AND OUTSIDE TRADE
Retailers Generally Are Opposed
To Handling Fraction Of Nickel
& In Accounts 49,.
BUSINESS FROM OTHER =.
ISLANDS NOT NEGLECTED.
Preparedness, AID Club Evening
At Central Union and Kane
hameha Day Considered ~

Two propositions Of special interest
to Honolulu merchants were discussed
by the board of retail trades of the
chamber of commerce yesterday after.
noon. One was a strong complaint as
TO the treatment given by local mer-
chants to orders from the other islands,
and the other was the matter of in.
Producing pennies in local coin circu,
lation.
Does Honolulu want pennies in cir
culationf Apparently not, judging by
tho discussion that took place when
the matter was brought up again.
Several members spoke, and the gener-
al opinion expressed. that there was
practically no demand for them. Now
and then tourists might want the small
change, but asa general thing, it was
stated pennies are not wanted in max.
ing change in Honolulu stores.
Honolulu Losing Business
The more important matter of the
failure Of Honolulu merchants proper.
ly to accommodate their customers on
other islands was discussed by Ray
mond q. Brown, secretary Of the
chamber, who gave the members
some valuable information on the sub
Ject. He said that on a recent trip
through the Islands he had encountered
many complaints that orders for goods
from Honolulu were not given proper
consideration. He had been surprised
to hear people complaining that they
did not get proper attention when they
sent orders to Honolulu stores. Some
times when one brand of goods was
ordered another would be substituted,
he had been told. He thought that
the result of this state of affairs was
that the big mainland mail order houses
were getting business which Honolulu
should have. ..
Try To Serve Outside Trade
Several members spoke on the sub.
Je"t, stating that they made strong eff.
l0rts to satisfy the orders they receiv-
cd from Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. One
OF the speakers said that when he got
IN order from an outside district he
invariably tried~to fill it with Just the
kind of goods asked for, even if he
had to go out and buy for his custom
or. 1t seemed to be the consensus of
opinion among those present that Homo.
lulu merchants generally tried to serve
their outside customers well, but Mr..
Browns suggestion that there was
dissatisfaction and that as a result
mainland mail order houses were in
creasing their business.
Preparedness And Ad Club Evening
The matter of a Honolulu prepared
ness parade was discussed in connec-
tion with the plans for the coming
celebration of Kamehameha day, which
~ to be ushered in by a special serv-
nee on Sunday night at Central Union
church. Rev. George Laughton of
illo will address the gathering, which
Will include the members of the civic
bodies and the Hawaiian societies.
Special music of an extraordinary
quality will be heard in which the
kamohameha Chorus and Glee Club
and the Russian orchestra, now ap-
pearing at the Alexander Young Hotel
will take part. The address of the
Hilo pastor will, it is hoped, lead up
to the organization of preparedness
parade in this city in the near future,
and all were urged to be present at
the meeting. ?
Other Matters Discussed
In the matter of the excursions to
this city which are being run under the
auspices of the board, with the coopera-
tion of the steamship and railroad com
panies, the hotels and large boarding
houses, it was reported that already the
out of town customers were noticed in
the shops, and assurances were being
received daily, that the next two days
would see very large crowd of folk
from the other islands in the city.
Regarding expenses for the publicity
campaign, which the retail trades
board had started, IL was stated that
many of the members had not come
through with their assessments and
that this must be attended to at once,
as the bills incurred would have to be
met by the board instead of by the
chamber of commerce.
Chairman McInerny stated for the
benefit of the members that all barber
shops patronized by them would be
closed on Monday morning at ten
o'clock. This was decided at a meet
ing of the tonsorialists who had been
at sea as to what to do, and on call
Of the chairman they had met to dis.
cuss the closing matter and all, had
agreed as to the time.