Saleyard owners deny rumours

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 272, 31 January 1989, Page 3

Saleyard owners deny rumours

The owners of Raetihi Saleyards are concerned that some people are of the opinion that the owners want to see their eventual closure.

This could not be further from the truth, according to the operators, and the current owners, the two local national stock and station companies vigorously support the continuation of the yards and say they would welcome the entry of any private operators, provided they are prepared to enter on an equal cost sharing basis.

The present decline in numbers coming forward for sale is partly due to the presence of private operators conducting paddock saies in opposition to the auction system and if the local companies are to remain competitive they too must also compete strongly in the area of paddock saies, according to the Raetihi chairman of Associated

Auctioneers, Mr Ian Ellen. A continuation of this trend may eventually see the closure of the yards due to a lack of numbers coming forward to auction, for the saleyards to remain a viable operation. "Associated Auctioneers view this trend with concern and in line with our stated intention to continue operating a viable saleyards complex, trust that the necessary support from the Waimarino farming

community continues to enable this local asset to remain for the benefit of the total community and the proven market price setting that any auction system provides," states Mr Ellen.