THE LATEST IN TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1916, Page 6

THE LATEST IN TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

To the Editor.

Sir,—ln these days, when the motto of every one's life appears to be make money honestly if yon can but ''get it," we are daily hearing and reading of various trusts and combinations being formed for the sole purpose of fleecing the producer and enriching (hose who neither toil nor spin. But the latest combine of a few large stock dealers operating around Stratford, Inglewood and adjoining districts seems to me about "the, limit," and one which the shareholders, in the Farmers' Organisation Co. should immediately see that their directors take steps to crush. It has been freely spokep of for some time that several dealers protested to the head of a proprietary concern and threatened to purchase no more stock at his yards or throngl. his agents if he allowed certain buyers to operate at sales conducted by him. It is a matter of genera! knowledge that Ihe auctioneering firm gave way.' and a certain clique of dealers thereby got a monopoly and the cocky a :25 per cent, reduction on all his store, fat, or cull cows. Last Wednesday week at Inglewood the same clique of dealers were threatening to-boycott the Farmers'.yards unless a certain genuine farmer, who also frcozed a lot of stock, and pays a fair price for all stock he buys, is prohibited from buying at any sale conducted in the F.6.C. The proposed boycotted one is a man who pays cash for all his stock, but whenever lie operates at a saleyard there is always a distinct advance in prices. It is to be hoped the directors, in the best interests of the company, and small shareholders in particular, will stand firm and not allow themselves to be dominated by a clique led by dealers who started' with very little but now own several farms wh'ieli have been purchased with money made at the expense of the small tanner. It is rumored that the same dealers' trust or combine will pursue the same tactics and endeavor- to capture the Farmers' Freezing Works when opened, and thereby prevent the small farmer from disposing of his fat stock only through the aforesaid dealers acting as middlemen. In conclusion, I hope the shareholders and farmers will take the hint and not do business through any firm which is being practically ruled at the instigation of a few dealers, but will only trade through any firm who will give full l ; berty for everyone to operate at public auction who can pay for their stock.— I am, etc.. "SMALL COCKIE.

Inglewood, 20/7/18.