STUD STOCK SALES

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 20

STUD STOCK SALES

Commission rise attacked A move to increase the commission on stud stock sales by 20 per cent has been described as “intolerable and unjustifiable” by the chairman of the New Zealand Angus Association, Mr J. B. Hickman. “Stud stock prices are in a depressed state at present,” said Mr Hickman. “This in itself creates a considerable burden for farmers without an increase in rates. “In recent years stud stock breeders have been very conscious of their cost structure and are continually studying ways and means of improving the economics of stud stock breeding as a whole,” said Mr Hickman. “I think it only reasonable that stock and station agencies be asked to do the same, and achieve the kind of savings that we have been making ourselves so as to stop the price spiral.” Mr Hickman said that it would be preferable to the stud stock industry if the various agents streamlined their services rather than raised their prices. He said the Angus Association was supporting resistance to the move by the United Breed Societies and Federated Farmers, “and will do everything in its power to stop the proposed increase.

“With returns from fanning at an alarming low, this proposed increase from the stock and station agents could not come at a worse time. “There have been discussions with the United Breed Societies on the problem of the costs of operating a stud stock service,” said Mr N. O. Thomas, general manager of the New Zealand Stock and Station Agents’ Association, this week. “These discussions have not yet been completed.”