Appeal Against One Day Stock Sale At Kamo

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1942, Page 2

Appeal Against One Day Stock Sale At Kamo

Lengthy submissions in opposing a direction of the Whangarei Goods Transport Control Committee that stock should only be carried to Kamo on one day a week, resulting in the stock sales at Kamo being held on one day at tivvo yards, were made in an appeal to the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr. E. J. Phelan) yesterday. Appellants were Walter Wakelin Ltd., auctioneers, and J. J. Linnell and S. Germane, carriers, all being represented by Mr. D. Ross. The authority said he had received submissions on the subject from a number of people, and it appeared that the committee in its wisdom had decided that sales should be held on one day instead of on two days as had been customary in the past. It was now suggested by the appellants that one day’s sale was not sufficient to do justice to the producers. All he was concerned about was if the sacrifice was justified and if there would be a saving of rubber in the new arrangement, he continued. In the committee’s opinion, it appeared, road traffic could be reduced. He did not propose to take evidence on oath, but was conducting an inquiry which (would enable him to get at the root of the question and reach a just decision. Only Part Loads

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Mr. W. A. Christiansen, a member, said it had been considered that a saving in petrol and rubber would be effected by reducing stock cartage. It had been within the knowledge of the committee that on many occasions only part loads of stock were being carried, and by reducing the number of days of carrying to one, it had been expected that full loads would be obtained, bringing about less running and consequent saving in petrol and tyres. Actually, the committee could not limit sales, but it could reduce the days for stock carriage, and stock and station agents had been invited to confer with the committee, five of the six firms attending. After evidence had been heard it had been considered that running could be reduced by fixing one day for carriage of stock in Whangarei town and Kamo, and Wednesday had been the day fixed. The First Day

Last Wednesday had been the first occasion on which this arrangement had been operated, and two members of the committee had visited both saleyards. They considered that there had been no difficulty in handling the two sales on the one day. Would Reconsider

The committee had decided that if it was thought hardship was being created by its decision it would, after reasonable time, reconsider the question, Mr. Christiansen continued. It had also been decided that where there were unusual circumstances, running on other days would be permitted. This would operate next week when owing to Christmas Day falling on Friday, it was advisable to permit extra running.

It was admitted that on some occasions carriers would have to run double trips on the one day, but he thought the authority would agree that this was better than carriers running trips on any days. In reply to the authority, Mr. Christiansen said that the committee did not have figures showing the actual mileage that would be saved under the new arrangement, but if carrying were permitted only on one day there must be a saving as compared with running on any day. The committee believed that apart from exceptional instances, stock could be carried without extra trips.

Volume of Business

The authority asked for information

of the volume of business going through each of the two saleyards, Mr. Christiansen replying that he did not have the figures, but he would admit that the volume of business passing through Wakelin’s yards was considerably greater than that passing through the other yards. His own firm. North Auckland Farmers’ Co-op.. Ltd., was willing to try out the committee's decision. Representatives of the stock agents on the committee had no power to vote, the authority pointed out. The stock committee acted in an advisory capacity, power resting with the goods committee, which, however, he had asked to give serious consideration to the recommendations of the stock committee. He could not understand 'why at the outset the stock committee had not been given power to vote.

In reply to a further question, Mr.

Christiansen said he did not think that farmers had moved between the two sales to any great extent. The chairman of the goods committee.

Mr. C. Runciman. said that any recommendations of the stock committee were given serious consideration. The decision to allow carting on only one day had only been made after serious consideration, and only one of six firms had objected.

Continual Pressure

Addressing the authority on behalf

of the appellants, Mr Ross said he thought it unfortunate that a member of the advisory committee should be employed by a firm which had been a keen advocate for a one-day sale at Kamo. For several years there had been a drive against Wakelin, Ltd.. and continual pressure had been brought to bear to bring the firm into line with other firms.

Now in its third generation, the present managing-director being the grandson of the founder, the firm had been selling on each Wednesday at Kamo for the past 70 years, but now interference was being caused by a division of buyers, which was disastrous from the point of view of producers.

By the decision of the committee, firms in opposition to Wakelin, Ltd., were being placed in the position of getting in on the same ground. It was an attempt to divide the customers. Mr Ross alleged, stating that the claim that a saving in tyres was being effected was challenged. On the contrary, he claimed that wastage would be caused by double running.

Extra Trucks Needed

Carriers had their own territories and normally could handle the business from them, Mr Ross continued. On Wednesday, however, it had been necessary for an empty truck to go from Whangarei to Whananaki to pick up pigs which, if two-day sales had been in operation, would have been brought in to the second sale yesterday. He also said that other carriers had been obliged to work long hours under difficulties to meet the demand for transport brought about by one day’s sale. He asked that the committee should get down to bedrock and support its decision by showing where the savings were being effected. Mr Ross read a letter from Marshall and. Belton, a firm operating three trucks, supporting objection to the

committee’s decision. It was stated that the firm could not bring in pigs for the- one-day sale without "extra running and assistance from Whangarei trucks. Another operator on the Whangarei Heads run had had to leave behind' 10 baconers which had missed the market. Ordinarily, they would have been brought up yesterday for the second sale.

Referring to the Whangarei Heads run, Mr Ross said that the operator would be able to make a second trip if he worked long hours, but in tha\ event he would not be able io.-rrange for back loads. Back loads were arranged wherever possible when pigs were carried on two days, this being in accord with the need for economical running.

Nature Of Experiment

The authority: It is suggested by the committee that this is mere in the nature of an experiment. Mr Ross: It should have been investigated first, and not carried out as an experiment that affects people’s business.

The authority: Is tere any ill-feel-ing between these fix-ms? Mr Ross said there was not ill-feel-ing, but there was a Stock Auctioneers’ Association to which Wakelin, Ltd., did not belong. Wakelin, Ltd., was a family concern, which was only operating in the district, while the other firms were Dominion-wide.

The authority: It seems a pity they cannot get together. Mr Ross: Not in a case of this type. The firm was founded by the grandfather of the present managing-direc-tor, and it has built up a large following over a long period of years. Continuing, Mr Ross said that Wednesday’s trial of two sales on one day had been disastrous, and he submitted that a trial should net be made by way of an experiment which penalised and disorganised a business. He alsc submitted that the committee’s decision was ultra vires, as the regulations did not permit it to bring down a gen-ei-al direction fer a one-day sale. Mr Ross quoted the regulations, and submitted that the committee had not been given the power to make such an order. It had not been given arbitrary or dictatorial powers, and could not make an order which would have such a far-reaching effect. Opposition By Carriers? Each of the operators concerned in carrying stock was doing what he could to conserve petrol and tyres and running with the utmost economy. They were practically unanimously against the committee’s decision. The authority: Can you support that? Mr Ross said that he was representing two carriers. He had submitted a letter from another fii'm, and he had interviewed other carriers who supported the appeal. In reply to Mr Runciman, Mr Ross said that 235 pigs had been handled at Wakelin, Ltd.’s, sale on Wednesday. Mr Christiansen said he would like to correct an impression made by Mr Ross. As a member of the stock committee appointed by the companies, he had tried to be unbiassed, and he did not thipk that even if he wished to do so he could sway the opinions of the other members of the committee. No attempt had been made to give one firm an advantage over another. Any firm could change its day of sale and in the case of the oneday sole at Kamo any disadvantage probably had not been against the opposition firm.

The authority emphasised that operators and other people affected should bear with the committee, which was carrying out a difficult work.

Farmers’ Views

As the representative of the farmers on the stock committee, Mr H. E. Hewlett said that a large number of farmers were of the opinion that the method of conducting the sale at Kamo in the past had been out of date. Mr Ross had said that pressure had been brought to bear on Wakelin, Ltd., but that had come through the farmers, a committee having been set up by the Farmers’ Union on the question. Mr Ross had also said that farmers could net attend two sales on the one day. hut, on Wednesday, a neighbour of his had bought at both sales, while he himself, not being able to purchase at one sale had purchased at the other. Asked by the authority for his opinion of the effect of one sale day on producers, Mr Hewlett said that he considered one sale day could not have a bad effect if the firm sold the classes of stock at different times.

The authority said it seemed that both parties were desirous of doing something, but he considered they should discuss the question with the committee. Sacrifices had to be made, and all had to do what they could to save rubber.

If it could be shown that only two or three tyres a year could be saved, as patriots they should be able to put their house in order. The committee admitted that there might be anomalies. but they should do their best to get together. Mr Ross: We would if there would by any saving, but we are not convinced that there would be any saving.

Everybody’s Concern

The authority said he was not prepared to tell the committee it had made a mistake nor that there would be a saving in rubber, but the firms should get together and discuss the question with the committee.

Mr Ross: We found the committee had made up its mind for a one-day sale.

Everybody should be concerned with saving rubber, the authority replied. He had a great deal of sympathy for any committees because of the work that they werer doing. If the committee could be convinced that a one-day sale was not fulfilling its object, he was sure the decision would be reconsidered. Mr Ross pointed out that there were no stock carriers on the committee, which had produced no evidence to show that a one-day sale would result in tyre conservation. The authority agreed that he had no information on this point, and. he would have to secure that information. On the question of whether the committee’s decision should be carried out while his decision was being awaited, he said that it might be ad~visable for the committee not to issue any further direction.

Mr Christiansen said that a collection would be made on two days next week because of Christmas Day occurring on Friday, the authority replying .that he hoped to give a decision at an early date.