COMMISSION FOR SALE OF STOCK.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9304, 3 January 1896, Page 6

COMMISSION FOR SALE OF STOCK.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —After a long experience and personal intercourse with others, I want to Bay that 2j per cent, for selling is not enough remuneration. Stock sales require much help and long hours, which has to be paid for above the ordinary rate of labour wages.

The fact-, too, that such an extraordinary amount for licenses, say, , £40 per annum for each salesman, puts a big tax on the earnings, to which must be added the large amount of travelling expenses necessarily incurred, also the umouut of risk and actual loss which will follow even the beat of management in gettiug our money, goes to reduce our earnings considerably. These, with the usual accidental circumstances, will give your readers some impression of what 2-z does for us ; beside there is not auother place in this colony, as far as wo have heard, where this commission is ruling. In Dunedin 3| i 3 the ruliDg commission, in the North Island 5 per cent the rule. There may be some exceptional cases. Why then should we be expected to work at one of the most trying employments and get so badly paid ? No stock salesman here has done more than earn his bread, and some can hardly do that. We hope that the salesmen will agree to charge 9 J in the £ from this New \ear. I may say to them if they work their lives away in poverty nobody will thank them, and the 3d in the £ will never be felt by the seller, but would make something to cover the expenses of the salesman and give him a little more heart in his work. Tho license matter is one which should be taken up by all the auctioneers in New Zealand. The licenses of the Australian colonies range from £5 up to £20 i and why £40 is charged hero I never could learn. If it was thought to make a monopoly, well then that idea must have broken down long ago. Successful salesmen are born, not made ; and only such can bold on. In England I am told tho license is 40s. A very proper sum. Why should our energies be taxed to pay city rates ? Christchurch received over £1200 last year from the poor, hard-worked nuctioneers. It is hoped somethiug will be done to alter this tax on our blood and brains, especially at 2% per cent. —Yours, &c, Sufferer.