REDUCING COSTS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20243, 22 May 1931, Page 14

REDUCING COSTS.

STOCK FIRMS AND COMPANIES. suggestions by farmers. The reduction of farming «6sts one subject which : eame up fftt diM#* sion at tliq -annual provlnci&l once of 'the Norjh Canterbury brarieh of the New Zealand Farmers'-Umoa yoßtorday, utid 'uiider that heading A remit was carried which 86t out' that stock lirrns,. freezing cOiiap*nies, sad dairy factories b6 requested to consider co-operative - action .tot rthe purpose of reducing tho /large am&ujifr. spent in motor transport for their scheme similar to that in epsfation lil largo districts of the tforth ldland.v There were t\vo remits before the CO a* fcrcnco dealing with fedticittg coStS. They were as follows:— 1 ' " • (1) T „ stock firms,, freezing companies, and dairy companies in North Canterbury be feducated to consider the possibility of co-operative action for, the purpose -of reducing the large amount spent in motor transport for, their staffs. A Movement in this direction has been initiated in the Wellington, Palmerston Sforth, Masterton, And Wanganui districts, which indicates the poHsibility of substantial saving. _ - ... (-) That as charges for killing, freezing, transport, •storage, selling, etc., will be affected by any reduction in wage rates by the Arbitration Court, it is desirable that firms carrying on this class of business should t>6 asked to what extent they are prepared to pass on to farmers the- benefits thejr will derive from reduced wages, ill: order that farmers should obtain some, relief in thiri direction. J ' Mr J. D. Hall, in moving the adoption of the first said that it waa obvi,ous to all that ther« was far too much" over-lapping of agents and in timet such as these every avenue which pro* yided a means of economy, should be explored. , : Mr W. W. Mulholland supported the remit, stating that the ezistenee of «a { many agents and the continual dpublebanking in districts was really a disservice to the farmers. The position had become bo accentuated that in many cases it was a fact that the agent-be* came the iole dictator of the policy of the farmer. Ho told him when to veil and what to -Hell.' The farmer could and should do all that thinking for himself and save the expense. Expensive Motor-cars. Mr C, Mcintosh: We simply have to economise. It is no good trylig to wobble a way through. The statement was made in Wellington recently that the naotor-qar maintenance bill for one stock firm in New Zealand for a year was £32,000. At country, aaley&rda w« see all the firms represented, and perhaps each one has only.few p®M to; , selL Under an. amalgamation echfimp such; as is in operation in the Island,' man could do all of a yarding at a country centre. The direct saving would be in reduced commission, and -if not in,«that way, then it would reduce the overhead expense of the firm or firms, and- that'would result in there >being, a. better - service available for farmers in other waysfinancing for instance. This co-operation should come about. ■. ~. . Mr J. B. Culjpn: Why should we dictate to 'the Arms? They v have so teuchmoney involved in each- district that they must have a representative to keep an eye on their j affairs. Most of tho firms' 'fears aro off road now and there is a penalty, of. £SO if an employee: takes one out.' Mr Mclntosh; We are requesting merely that they consider the suggestion. ' 1 , Mr' Oullen: They have done so already. '' , Mr Melntesh: Thig will show them that we fire in -accord with their action then. . , Mr D. 3, Hawke: I would include dairy factories in the remit, tot), as it is* very noticeable} that different concerns patrol the same road, one on the heels of the other. , JjTr Hawke 's suggestion was Approved and the first remit was carried nnaai- * mously, While the see6hd remit was car-' ried without discussion. . >