CRIPPLING ORDERS

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1933, Page 3

CRIPPLING ORDERS

DAIRY COMPANIES AS AGENTS

PRO POSE D RAT F, COLL FfTION,

The .suggestion was made; by Hon. \. D. McLeod, M.P., chairman of Ihe Native Rate Committee, which heard evidence in Whangarei yeslerday, thal it might, be advisable to collect native rates by assignments on dairy cherpies. This led Mr L. Webb, chairman of the Whangarei County Council, who Is also chairman of the Hiknrangi Dairy Company, to express himself strongly upon the question of those orders. "It- seems to be a practice among travellers to go round selling things Si farmers and gelling orders on the dairy companies for payment," he said. "This position is becoming - increasingly apparent in these times, and it seems that the dairy companies arc being made collecting agencies for business people. Me have even had insurance companies asking ns to take up then agencies, their representatives to cahvass suppliers and obtain orders on receipts. An assignment on a dairv cheque is regarded as legal tender with priority according to the date it is handed in, and cannot be refused bv a dairy company." Air T. A. Blake also quoted eases where Maori suppliers had pledged their earnings to purchase wireless sets and gramophones.

Members of the committee indicated that some amendment- of the law providing for preferential orders for sustenance and rate payments might be contemplated, and Air Webb expressed concurrence in this suggestion.