AUCTION SALES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 275, 9 August 1918, Page 7

AUCTION SALES

.Sir,—l notice from Saturday's Dominion that at tho Dominion Conference of the Now Zealand tanners' Union a remit from Wellington advised (hat stock auctioneers should be compelled to state tho names of vendors of flock put up for auction; Now, Sir, I think, though that may be quito right it docs not go. nearly far enough, for in tho first placo public auction should imjily tho fullest publicity. The auctioneers ■ought to bo compelled .by tho Legislature, when each lot i 3 knocked down, to niame distinctly tho buyer, and then if not sold to pass tho lot to the last bidder, who should havo' tho right to lake tho lot at tho vendor's reserve. This, I understand, is done at all wool sales. All bogus bidding, or "trotting" as :it is called, should bo entirely abolished, as it is in the first placo injurious to the auctioneer's business and is entirely against tho interests of both buyer and seller. 1 think it is a subject well worth serious consideration and discussion by all farmers' unions. I havo been a farmer myself for ovec-forty vcars, and during that time I havo done a good <lcal of businesses both buyer and seller «vt auction sales, and I am fully convinced that this bogus business is altogether against tho interests of all and is a curse to the auction business. If this reform can bo brought about it -will be greatly appreciated.—l am, etc., FARMER.