Two Stock Sales Today Make Kamo History

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1942, Page 6

Two Stock Sales Today Make Kamo History

Today, for the first-time, two stock yards operated at the same time at Kamo. Reason for the double-yard fixture was the determination of the Whangarei Goods Control Committee that, to meet the tyre shortage and petrol position, stock should be carted to Kamo on only one day each week. Wednesday was fixed for the carting! day. necessitating the firms of North Auckland Farmers’ Co-op. Ltd., and Dalgety and Co. Ltd., which usually sell on Thursdays, to move their sales forward one day, coinciding with the usual day of Walter Wakelin Ltds Kamo sale, and thereby bringing two saleyards about half-a-mile apart into operation. For aboil t. two years there has been a certain amount of agitation by the Farmers’ Union in this district to secure one consolidated sale but without success. Neither did the two sales today meet the position as far as the union was concerned as it had envisaged one consolidated sale held at one yard and not competitive sales on one day at two yards. . To investigate reaction to the two sale*, a representative of the “Northern Advocate” today visited both saleyards and was informed by prominent farmers that, while agreeing' with the principle of one sale day, they did not consider sales at two ifferent yards on one day to be either practicable or advantageous. It was rtr.tcd that two sales meant division oi Olivers with resultant lowering of competition and prices, whereas one consolidated sale would create competition and keener prices. Disadvantages Although this would react in favour of sellers the buyers would have the advantage of seeing all offerings and buying according to their requirements. With two sales being held at the same time, however, this was not possible and buyers had to choose one saleyard and remain there or else travel between the two and take the risk of missing what they required at one saleyard or both. The opinion was expressed that the double sale would not work out in practice to the advantage of sellers, buyers or to the auctioneering firms. The reason for the two sales being heir.

on one day, however, is the committee's ruling' regarding carriage of stock. Principal factors, it would appear, are saving in tyres and benzine, particularly the former, the shortage of which has been emphasised ever since sources ot raw material fell into the hands of the Japanese. To discover if one day sales at two yards would meet this position, carrying firms were interviewed. Statements made indicated that undoubtedly there would be a saving ir. mileages by full load cartages from both yards but whether tyres would be saved} Cas quesfMrred. Petrol caving was admitted but the belie! was expressed that there would be no tyre saving because of heavier loads. Heavier loads meant greater wear on tyres and if. to reduce loads more trips were run, it would mean that no advantage other than a saving in petrol would have been gained. Against this were factors such as longer time in loading and congestion in handling and doubt was_ expressed that the purpose of the committee would be effected. , The bpposite viewpoint was oxpiesseci by another carrying firm handling stock. The conducting of the two sales on one dav would mean a saving In mileage, and a certain saving in tyres, it was stated. Few extra trips would have to be run unless it was in the flush of the season and therefore there must be a definite saving ° r stock’carrving was heavier for a further reason as today was the last official day for bobby calf collection and carriers had to accommodate stock for both sales as well as collect calves. Originally the collection day was Thursday, but for the final day collection was advanced until today.