THE SALEYARDS QUESTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8833, 13 July 1905, Page 1

THE SALEYARDS QUESTION.

To tho Editor. Sir,—Don't let "Verb Sap" mistake mo! I am rather partial to "close q'uartoTS," and if he -will confine himself to fair argument, I am prepared to meet him ovory time and debate tho question. But I don't corridor ho has shown, by any means, that thcro is no reasonable chance of profit to tho shareholders in a saleyaTds company, and as "Verb Sap" himself is only going upon "estimates," baaed paTtly, at least, upon a business -which, is at present languishing under tho most unfavorable conditions possible, I hold tliat my arguments—whioli are based rather upon the reasonable pTOepects ahead of so important a stock oontro —are «veTy whit aa good as his. But, then, I am not a pessimist, and I soo something better ahead than, apparently, "Verb Sap' docs? He is evidently of opinion that, in these days of enterprise (in other places) a second-rate position is quite good enough for us. Why, I should like to know, docs "Verb Sap" suppose that his roferenco to tho North Eoadf Yards should "appeal to mo?" I am not awaTo that I have been arguing for those yards at all, nor that I havo even mentioned them in this discussion. And yet, eince he makes such pointed reference to the fact that 500 farmers re' presenting the ownership of 500,000 sheop have been "unable to make a fat stock market" in our district, I cannot pnss without asking him a couple of questions. Come now, "verb Sap," honestly, do you mean to imply that an attempt has been mode, by the 500 farmers of whom

von Kpeak, lo ost:ll>]i m) 1 a uiarkol at, I,ho North ltoad Yards? Or, suppuNinu that. kucli ail attempt, really had hi«i-n made with Ktieh a strong "If.ukinw." would uncll attempi, haw failed? 1 am <piitc utile you cannot, say "yes" to either question. 1(< is ridiculous to try and provo anything <>!• all liv tho contention, for, what, with opposition, !1 Kplil, amoiinsl. the inlet ionceT»o and the holdini.; Af two sales on olio <hiy'|., what, wonder is it that, so far friini any V market lieim; "cj.lablished," Iho business I at both yards lias cone lo tln- I No, \ indeed ; from a business point of view, 1 neither (lie own rs of the .Imirliou nor (ho S North Ko.nl Yards have much lo shake ;

hands with I li'inselves .11hn11-, though 1 'i am told on compel cut. authority I hat, the proportion and amount of lioiim. lido wiles at. Ihe North Ho.ii! Yardw have been, if anythin;;, i;lvatcr than those al ihe Junction. This, however, not ■ \"illi Nap" me to a "fat Block" market ? Have I discuss inn- thai, alone'.' I certainly think I have, and my arguments in of yards provided with "fueilil ics" apply to store slock equally with fal. There surely no need (■> »n outside tho bounds of cotlltnollseuso in a d itu ussion of (11iH sort.

Then as lo I lie r.elliuic of fat, stock ill Canterbury. | niv authority lo a lai'j;o extent t'r.uii lis- Chrislehureh nowspa|K'i'M. If, however, their ro|K>il« aro no more reliable than the man in the street sunk those

ill | ho .lumtiiui V.uiln have km during tin l past year, then I am free lo admil I hat 1 lnay have he< n misl.ilicn : nol wil Inland ing I know from I 'anlevhiii v men that year liy year there is .in ever i I nil 1 .! kin ii tendency for urowers to sell their I'll slock by public auel inn. "Verb Sap's" retort about Ilii> "swallow" <loe« iio( in llii« else provide ;i very forcible argmncnl. We h.ive been accustomed in flu/ j >;i s( to morn than one good s:i 1< > in Iho season, .1 mI. liv tli<> same token, why should liol. the expcrii lire of III!' I list repeal il self? Mill vol (In .'ml :< i|>.i!<• "Verb Sup's" lvply) that ilinm nol go to prove llial tho yards which wived in Iho paid lor Iho diic triel's Tcipiiremcnts are still Miilahlo or sullieicntly np-|.> <l.i(f> In be il] keeping with the development iiml prog-resH of North (Hugo in ccinunim with other districts ill I ho Soul II Island.

] mil wry if "Verb Sap" lliinlm 1 li/ivo not dealt with thin mailer iu a husincNN-

like way, but, as I hold oppose viewH to his, I suppose il ix only natural. All, well! there .'ire oilier eonsidoral ioiiH jlinl. as worthy of being laken inlo account /im (ho immciliato payment of a dividend olio, for example, being (lie eli.'tneo nl' holler piices for our slock. I am reminded of an old Having, "Nothing venture, nothing win," and evidently "Verb Sap" is of tho class who "nol lung veiiliiro." In every business or nudei'laliing there is, nnil nlwayn must be, an element of unwrl-ainly, and you can never tell what tho result In going to be until you have I riod it. Hut, of course, one thing is absolutely jiecctisary if you hope lo succeed, and that iH "Pluck," This is a British attribute, which "Verb Sup" (to jmlgo from his writings) tliinkn our farming community is but poorly widowed with. Well, if his estinialo in correct, wo must e'en lei it rest at that, and bo content to say, as in the past., "Pour old Oain.'ti'U ; cow's tail as usual I" In conclusion, Mr l'Milor, very many thanks for giving ino so mm li of your v/iltl able fipace. 1 prefer nol. al Ihe present, moment , to reveal my idenlily, bury suggests, hceanso ] have been trying to discuss (ho question from .'in impeiwinaf, public-spirited point, of view—see his own, advice—anil, therefore, 1 feel justified in still writing under a nom-do-plumo and signing my final contribution .TKVli\ To (lie Kdilor.

Sir, —In your is,sua of to-day Mossm Christie, Morris, and ltoso writo as follows "So much has been wild, and ho much more has been hinted, as to our point ion. in relation lo the saley.'irds i|liesfion, that, we consider il. light once more to Htnto it. for public informal ion. It i'h this: —We are. willing at. any I into to welcome back to tho ,1 unci ion Yards tho other two auctioneering linns on the conditions which, were agreed to by I Ik- North Ologo Far luers' Cooperative Association." In reply, I beg (o say "for public) information." thai my Asmielal ion did not negotiate for some lime wilii the lessees ol' the dunclion Yardci, but regret to sl-ale wj! found anything but. I ho "wolmtno" suggenl e<l in your correspondents' letter, liuring the negotiations, inslead of meeting us in a liberal and open Npirit, they .'illoreil their terms, and proposed fresh s( iptilal ions so oflcn (and even after our solicitor thought, everything was sel(lcil) as to niako il. .'ibumlanlly manifest that Ihcy were not prepared lo allow us lo return as ono of theinsclvcH, upon which understanding tho negotiations were based, and wo felt it w/im fut ilo lo furl her pursue ncgol inl ioiih, and our nolieilor wrolo them to that ellleet..

1 alii, etc.,, .1. MATT!, ANl> .lONICS, Manager, North Olago farmers' Co-opera live Association, Jitd. .1 uly 13th. 190!).