COMMERCIAL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 777, 16 February 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

THE CENTAL SYSTEM A meeting, convened by Messrs M'Caw, A damson, and Co., produce merchants and auctioneers, r.t the request, of a number of persons interested in the griin trade, was held lately at their auction roams, in Bourke street west, Melbourne, to decide finally with the view of preventing confusion, for or against the introduction of the cental system in the sale of grain. There were between thirty an-J forty people present, representing, pretty fairly it was considered, the various persons engaged in the grain trade. Mr J. L. Irvine was in the chair. After a short. discussion of a conversational character, Mr T. Brunton, corn-factor, proposed a resoiuion to the effect that the meeting resolved to "ive the cental system a fair trial and with that view pledged themselves to encourage its adoption in every way they could, lie believed that if it were adopted the result would be that accounts would be simplified and errors .rendered of less frequent occurrence than under the old system. Mr W. Aitken seconded the motion. Mr T. Hush, a miller, proposed, and Mr Eoote, seconded, an amendment declaring that the trade were satisfied with the system in use at piesent, and would adhere to it, at any rate until the cental system heconi" enforced by law. Mr Brunton pointed out that no law was required to introduce the cental system. It. was as much a matter of custom as the old system, the abolition of which was < ppoScd rather from a John Bull sort of prejudice against change than from any defects presented by the system it was proposed to substitute for it. -Mr W. Lawrence, corn factor, strongly supported the original motion, as he believed the cental system would work after a short time as well hero us in Liverpool and America. The amendni,-nt was rejected, and the original motion declared to he carried bj a majority of two to one. A resolution was adopted, requesting the auctioneers to sell by the cental, from and after Ist January next, and the proceedings then terminated.