Allegedly High Stock Agents’ Commissions

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 5, 9 December 1947, Page 6

Allegedly High Stock Agents’ Commissions

Prosecuting an enquiry regarding allegedly excessive stock agents’ commissions in the King Country, the following comments have been made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce. “The Tribunal has ascertained that, as stated by the Federated Farmers, stock agents’ commissions in the King Country, and in fact in the whole of the Auckland Province, are higher than elsewhere in the North Island. This differential has existed for at least 30 years. The reason given by the Stock an Station Agents’ Association is that this is due to different conditions which apply in Auckland, w T here individual sales are smaller than elsewhere and where, in many instances, the distanced travelled and the time taken by representatives of the firms entail substantially higher costs in relation to the qpantity of stock sold than incurred in the southern districts of the North Island.”

The Minister adds, that the Tribunal has not investigated the claims of the agents but instructions have been issued that the agents be called upon to show cause why their commission in this area should be higher than elsewhere in the North Island.