Elders intends full livestock operation

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 10

Elders intends full livestock operation

Elders Pastoral, Ltd intends seeking access to all livestock-selling facilities in the South Island and hopes to be fully operational in North Canterbury early next month.

The company’s South Island regional manager, Mr Keith Whiteside, said this week that Elders wanted a full South Island network of selling facilities. Elders has already appointed four livestock representatives for the Christchurch area as well as having made several senior appointments in the South Island.

Elders will bring to four the number of stock and station firms operating in Canterbury. The initial reaction of farmers to a fourth stock and station agency in Canterbury had exceeded all expectations, said Mr Whiteside. Farmers welcomed an alternative company and the attitude of existing stock and station firms was “competitively fair.” Mr Whiteside said Elders was aiming at being an active and competitive firm and would not be bound by

tradition. The company would pursue new areas of marketing, such as a transTasman goat sale in early February. The goat auction will be based in Melbourne and a bidding outstation set up at Hamilton where a direct video will enable buyers to bid for stock. Subject to approval, Elders will be ready to start selling livestock at the Addington saleyards at the beginning of February, said Elders’ South Island regional livestock manager, Mr John Watson. An existing broker will sell wool at Christchurch on behalf of fanners wanting to . auction wool through Elders. Mr Whiteside said Elders’ objective was to eventually provide farmers with a full auction service controlled by Elders.

Christchurch will be the base for Elders’ South Island regional office. In the meantime, the firm will be housed at the former premises of the Canterbury (N.Z.) Seed Company, Clarence Street, until alternative premises are established.