SMALL WE SELL OR CONSIGN?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 15, 12 October 1907, Page 2

SMALL WE SELL OR CONSIGN?

v ■ OUII HARDY ANNUAL. IN THE THROES OP A PROBLEM. . There aro still many of our dairy factories that have not yot managed to disentangle themselves from the great annual task of deciding on the mode of disposing of the soason's output. Maoterton is 011 tho vergo of a decision, and there aro others whose verdict has yet to be pronouncedThe Last Word. We feel a desire to assist those with whom it rests to wrestle with the problenl • but we aro not so rash as to suppose that we—or any one —can say now what will prove hereafter to bo tho wisest decision. It is, and always must be,' during the initial stages, an open question. If there is in Now Zealand a man who can say to-day tho last' word on this trying question that is agitating : .tho . breasts of hundreds of worthy factory direotors, we can assure him that there aro many people who would bo glad to meet liira. Vl'fiether a sale at IOJd., or lO^d., or oven IOJd. will bo raoro profitable than consignment is a burdensomo question that no director, can lift to the Shoulders of someone else. Let Down Ligiiily. But still there are consideration — faofcs —prospects —that every reasonable man will weigh up. The lessons of last yoiir, the stato of tho markets, tho chanora of big or. little consignments from oursolvcs and elsewhere — all lead, a;balanced mind to a reasonable conclusion. That conclusion may turn out to bo at fault. Many a man has made or. lost a fortuno by accident. , So wo trust -that directors • who may chanco in this matter to do their best .badly .'will be :"let down lightly" in tho .'months to como whon tho relurns aro going against them. Factors. What aro tho factors that our reasonable directors will review? On tho general question of salo or consignment at ruling rates they mil scrutinisa closely tho figuros of last year:— Consignment butter, average prico, lOjd. Xalos butter, average price 10i|d. Those figures.at tho first glancowill make consignors fidget. Will the figures be similar next year? There is not tho slightest justification for suddenly concluding that they will. Agents who bought last year lost money and. will theroforo buy cheaper this year if possible. But so they would if thoy had not lost a.penny. As business men tlicy will buy .it tho lowest possiblo figure, and directors—equally businesslike—will soli at tho highest. There is 110 woight in-tho"fear of an attempt 'to ■ recoup ' last : -year's losses out of this-yoar's pricos unless wo suppose tho existence of a combine or secret\ agreement among tho agents. W'o have no evidence that any such state of harmony exists among, thorn. But thoro is ample indication that they aro, on tho contrary, watching each other as oats watch mice. "Things wore not always so. Tho • books of a prominent niCsrclmnt show that for some years .past. tho..consignment.factories made id. a pound more monoy than those who sold. ' In tho present year the' avorngo selling prico. of butter is between 10} d. and , 10gd. Occasionally a favoured ' faotoTy . has' got ono'-six-teenth of a f'suny more. ■ :What : frill wo get by eonsignina ?■ " "