A "CUTTING-UP" SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 81, 7 April 1910, Page 3

A "CUTTING-UP" SYSTEM.

TO BE ABOLISHED. [IX ZELEGBAPB — SPECIAL TO THE FO9T.J CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. For some time it has been the custom of a number of dealers and exporters — not only at the Addington market, but elsewhere — to "cut up" pens after purchase — that if, lines were divided among several dealers after having been knocked down. The custom had grown to such an extent that at some sales few pens escaped the partitioning process. Naturally, the subdivision of pens and the amount of clerical work involved greatly increased the work of the auctioneering firms, and also gave ground for a (suspicion on the part of the public that there was an understanding among buyers to cut up with a view of lessening competition. For some time there has been an agitation to have the custom abolished, and latterly the clients have been able to win the support of the various auctioneering firms. With the object of seeing what could be done in the matter, a meeting of selling agents was held, at which it was decided to put an end to the practice, and to insist that there should bo no subdivision after ■ales. The opinion was freely expressed that "cutting up" was against the spirit of public auctions, and was detrimental to the best interests of the trade, since it gave rise to a feeling on the part of the public that the object was to throttle competition. At th» Addington yards yesterday Mr. Leicester Mats<t», speaking on behalf of the firm* doing business at the yards, referred to the question, and announced the decision which had been unanimously arrived at. Mr. Clartson, speaking on behalf of the dealer*, expressed himself well pleased with the decision of the selling firms, and said that he hoped the buyers would do ev^^/hing vi their power to assist the auctioneers in the matter.