SELLING CATTLE BY WEIGHT

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 261, 31 December 1914, Page 4

SELLING CATTLE BY WEIGHT

The Movement Revived The movement in favour of adopting the American syatem of selling fat cattle by weight is gathering an increasing number of adherents. In Adelaide, to provide an equitable basis for tho operations of all parties, it is suggested that the system of selling by live weight should be adopted. The subject has been discussed at meetings of agriculturists and graziers,and at the farmeis' congress in Adelaide a resolution was carried that it should be referred to the various branches. It » urged that if cattle were wtighed as thay entered the selling yards, and thtir weights registered, buyers and sellers alike could get a good idea of the exact weight of beef. Ihe latter would also be able to compare the cattle they had left with those sold, and thus be in a position to arrive at a close estimate of their market value. The opinion was expressed that producers bad been misled by market quotations, as the price per 1001b was not the estimate of the auctioneer, but rather of the butcher who bought the beef. The agitation is also receiving attention in New South Wales, where it is cintended that the man who breeds s'cek for the markets bas as much right to the actual weight of his produce as the farmer who raises wheat or maize. Yet he does not "get it. The practice now is for buyers ttr assess the weights cf tli3 animal in their own minds, and to bid accordingly. In uomc cases wool experts are called in to essist th* buyer in forming his ideas concerning the value of tbe wool on th 3 sheep's back. The allowance made in favour cf the buyer is always above the matk, so that here is thus to the bujer a profit over and above that which is fair to tha owner of the stock.Ihe question has also been taken up in New Zealand. One of the speakers at a recent gathering explained that during a visit to the Continmt he taw the stock weighed prior to the fates. In addition to that nearly ev.ry farmer h?d bis own scales, so' that he knew pretty well what his own fats ought to bring when sent along to the yards. One of these machines that would register up to 20001b was worth about £3O. "There cculd," this speaker conterded, "be no reasonable objection to the introduction of this refoim. hvery argument was in favour of it. There would be a good deal mote satisfaction to all parties concerned, excepting the buyer, who playn to win at every throw of the dice in the stock buying bueincss. It is not to be c\p;cUd that the movement would be a popular one among the buyers, and it was cot easy to see bow this reform could be inaugurated unless the Slate Government pasted a measure enforcing th? prirciple."