STOCK YARDS

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1630, 11 April 1928, Page 2

STOCK YARDS

The fanners of. Central Ottigo hare long been poorly provided Avith facilities for the marketing of their stock. The extent, of stock raising country between the Tarras and Oturehua saleyards is enormous, and the settler's Hying midway between the two yards named are placed at a serious •disadvantage when' compared with their more fortunate brethren living near trf these two districts. The distant stock owner is faced with a long driveevery time he desires to market stock. He not only loses time and mone.v, but tlso reduces the condition of_ Ins stock; buyers do not always realise that the drooping heads and hollow sides are nierely due to-long and weary travel. Then when the settler buys fresh stock to replace those sold he again loses time and money ' by conveying them .to<;his holding.. There appears to be no, reason why stockyards should not he operated.- with profit in a more cert-' trally-situated locality, and Alexandra would appear to be the .most favored

locality. Alexandra isV-the natural centre for the surrounding' districts, aiid if yards were erected near the town .ill classes would assuredly benefit. The local settlers would be able to market their stock without long and costly driving, the stock would reach the yards in fresh condition, and the business people of Alexandra would benefit by the inevitable sale day invasion. The establishment of yards at Alexandra would probably cause a very slight reduction in the yardings at the other centres; the majority-of jfche stock reaching the new yards would represent that which is at present sold privately. The question may be raised, why open yards if sales can be made privately? At present the sottier is faced with the alternative of selling privately or of driving' a long distance. Each and every settler prefers to place his stock in the open market, where the competition is keen, rather than sell privately; where there is no competition.' If he seeks competition in private sales the process may prove a long one, and the best price will probably ,be lost. The stock owner knows how much an extra shilling per head gained in the saleyards may mean to him, and he also knows that the loss of condition during a long drive will probably lose him that shilling,' if not more. The effort required to establish yards locally should not be great, and'we understand that a movement is already afoot with this object in view. It behoves every settler who has his own and his district's interest at heart to do his utmost to further tins object, provided he believes the venture would prove a practicable one.