Pedlars; Hawkers; and Salesmen-An Update!

BONUS MONDAY POST

'PREPARE FOR THE RETURN OF THE DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMEN'  ran the imposing headline on page eleven of Saturday's Daily Telegraph.

For a brief moment I thought it might be return of the invaders from outer space-or aliens or even the return from the planet of the apes. But no, it was to do with one of my favourite topics from the past-our old friends, pedlars, hawkers and salesmen.

Jo Swinson from the Lib-Dems is trying to fast-track the scrapping of the outdated requirement for pedlars to abide by the 1871 Pedlars Act which she deems to be too restrictive; it requires pedlars to have a fixed address and to be of good character. Also children under the age of seventeen will be able to sell trinkets for the first time. Part of the rationale is to encourage and promote entrepreneurship in these tougher economic times.

So while for most of us we can look forward to a new influx of colourful visitations, those at Morningside are busy even now dusting down and polishing up their No Hawkers, Pedlars or Salesmen signs-sorry to disappoint you Liz, but nae such visitations for you in Melbourne-Oz is doing too well economically compared to the rest of us in the home country!