Big Masting of Farmers

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 July 1916, Page 3

Big Masting of Farmers

11'ELiD IN LEVIN.

Al>VL«_AlLai JGtXT ti'l'Oclv hi ALES

Will over one hundred farmers attended tho meeting convened for 1' riday morning in Levin, to consider proposals to hold the weekly stock sales in Levin on the ono day.

On tho motion of Mr J. Kebbell, seconded by Mr Al. Gorringe, tho mayor of Levin (Mr \j. Blenkhorn) took thu chair. Air Blenkhorn said lie did so with great pleasure, as he saw in the compliment an. indication, of the feeling existing between town anc country. A good doal of Levin's pr. speniy depended upon the weekly auct'on sales, and ho would like to see tlie present obstacles overcome, to the end that one day might be adopted for all sales. He believed tiint an alteration of tho weekly half holiday in Levin could bo arranged, if necessary. to facilitate matters. The newspapers, too, lie was sure, would; do all they could to lielp. Mr X. Kirkeahlic said that in order to test the feeling of the meeting lie. would move the following motion '•That we farmers of the, Mananvatiriivnd Hon whenua districts consider the pro- j • i sent method of holding stock sales in j Levin is absolutely opposed to their 1 ami. our best interests, and that we do make every endeavour to induce the .stick auctioneering firms doing bus-"-lie--, here to hold their suite on one day weekly, inste k! of two as at presunt." Speaking to the motion. Mr Kirkcaldie said that the holding of two sales a week was inconvenient for farmers and in disturbing factor on tbe markets. He believed, if the oneday sale was instituted Levin stock sn'e would become second only to Fcilding in the mattor of importance. Mr Kay seconded tho motion. Mr McT .oavey thought if the auctioneers agreed to sell on one cloy the question of joint yards might be left to them. All- Kirkcaide answeredi that if tho sheep were sold from one yard there would Ik' a greater crowdi of buyers together and therefore better results would be achieved. Air .las. I'roll so supported Air McLeavcy. Joint yards might, be desirable, but that point needed going into. Hi.- suggested that this matter be left until the question of one day was "settled. Mr E. Law agreed with with onedtiy sales, hut thought the matter of one-yard sales would be best left to the auctioneers. He thought it would be better noL to hold the sales on the day of Levin's half-holiday (applause). Mr BlenkTiorn saidi he understood thai. Wednesday was thought to be the best day for Wellington buyers; and he thought ,that being so, Levm shopkeepers would be ready to rfiange their half-holiday from Wednesday. Mr Kirkcaldie said os he wanted unanimity he would withdraw the reference to joint yards for the present. Air J. Kebbell coukl not sec why the auctioneers in Levin could not do what was done in Feilding. ' rarapa and other places. He thought they need; not amend tli?>. resolution. The motion as amended was agreed to oil the voices, it being understood that the question of joint yard sales uould be debated afterwards. Mr Jas Leydon said, it was impossible I to get the stock sold even under present conditions before about -1 p.m. If one wile was held jointly two days Mould be neoded. Voices "Stait the sate earlier I Air Leydon: "All very well; but you can get the stock in earlier." Mr

"Leyden, continuing, .said. Messrs Abraham and Williams had got the stock sales going properly and had stuck to things in the farmers' interests; now apparently, they were to be told they must hold the sales on one day whether it suited them or not. Mr lvirkcaldie said he did not know whether Mr Leydon was a shareholder in Abraham and Williams, Ltd.; it' lie Has, that might account for his remarks. Mr Kirkcaldie had no shares in any of the live stock companies; he was moving only in the interests oi the farmers (applause). In Sydney he had seen forty thousand sheep soldi in one day, besides seven or eight thousand head of cattle. There could be no real obstacle in Levin to carrying out one day sales. JOINT SALES. Mr lvay then movcl " That is be a, recommendation from this meeting, to the Dvo stock firms, that joint oneday taiies be held weekly in Levin." Mr AVl'ight seconded the motion. Mr J. I'rouse sa'id ho would like to liear more ol' the matter before lie couldi support it. Once he went to Addington, and when he came back he said that the best sales he had ever neon in New Zealand were those of Levin. At Addington tlioy seemed to be selling from daylight to dark, and things seemed badly managed. 110 suggested that a committee be set up Jirst, and the recommendation bo made to that committee. Ho would support that proposal.

Mr E. T,aw endorsed Mr Prouse's suggestion, and also spoke of the advteablenoss of approaching the auctioneers for in tho charges for selling.

Air 11. Saint said lie liad attended a good many times at Addiugton, Feikluig anil many other sales where conjoint sc.ling was done, and he liacli nevei seen good siock sacrificed.

Air Aitkin endorsed what Air Saint had said ; one hadi to go to Addington and 1' oildiug to see good livo soiling, ixe admitted that tho auctioneers in Levin were the hub of the wheel, but .t should be .l-enibercd that the farmers Veiv the tyres. If this meeting did uoi. go for «i joint sale the meeting would be futile. Two sale days a week were better than two separate sales on the one day; at separate sales one lost possible buyers through their absence at the other solo; but a conjoint sale one one day would be the best for all. Mr Taylor said it would not be to tlie best interests of one of the firms if ihe conjoint .stock sale wero insisted on : therefore he would not support the proposalAir M. Gorringe said be was a shareholder in Abraham and Willieims. Limited, but be must say it would; be in the interests of that linn and of all three firms, to have conjoint sales. [ I'Vllding could do it, and he was sure ! Levin's conjoint sales would not prove j to be greater tli«n Keilding's. I Mr McLcavey bad not found out how one conjoint sale wouM injure Abraham and \\ illiams. He thought the change would be to their advantage.. All fjienklioiii thought one could Hold tlie view of Mr Taylor, and still support tnis motion; tile motion was uiuy a recommendation. The motion was carried, as follows: ' that it be a recommendation from ! this meeting, to the auctioneering firms carrying on business ill Levin to hold weekly auction soles in Levin, conjointly." On the motion of Mr Kirkcaldie, seconded by Air John Davies (Oliau), a committee was set up as follows: Messrs J. Ivebbell, M. Gorringe, W. G. Adkin, Inge, Saint, Dunn, Higginson, R lievan, W. M. Simcox, F. Davies, G M. Burlinson, J. AlcLeavey. Wright and Bleiikhorn. SELLING CHARGES. Air Gorringe said tnat the auctioneering charges had become exorbitant, tested on the basis of tlie presont selling prices. The auctioneers obtained in a few minutes what the farmers bad spent months of work in producing. He moved: "That the rates of commission charged by the stock auctioneering firms, whieh were undiulv high before, the war, with stock at comparatively low prices, have now become with tho increased prices of stock a veritable burden on the farmers, ami that the auctioneering firms be requested to consider the same so as to bring the charges more in accord with those charged in other districts.''

Air Low seconded the motion and. said he would like to see the auctioneers raise their prices by two per cent. His hearers would ask why? He would answer because then the farmers would start their own yards as bad been done in other places, such a.s tin' U'.iikato (loud, applause). CONOR ET li V A R,T>S. On the motion of Air Saint, seconded by Air Kirkcaldie, it. was resolved that the auctioneering firms be requested to concrete all the yards. VOTES Of' THANKS. Votes of thanks to the mayor of Levin (for presiding) and to the "Dominion, The Ot.aki Alail, and The Horowhenca Dnily Chronicle, for attending and reporting the meeting, were carried by acclamation.