FARMERS AND THE COMMISSIONS OF AGENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10034, 27 April 1894, Page 3

FARMERS AND THE COMMISSIONS OF AGENTS.

TO TUB EDITOit. , Sin,—l would like to draw attention to the high rate of commission charged to farmers aud others on their sales of stock and other produce by Duoedln agents.

It may bo news to consumers of beef and mutton in and around Duuedin to know that for every twenty shillings' worth of beef and mutton sold at Burnside, or any other auction sales around Sunedin, the producer pays 9d, besides Is per head yard dues for cattle, and Id on sheep.

I understand that there is some arrangement among the agents as regards sales of sttok at Barnside that batchers have to pay np within one week from date of ssle. If such is the case, no justifiable reason can bs assigned for asking the producer to pay 3} per cent, commission. For my patb I txa sure 2£ per cent, should be quite sufficient, and that should cover yard dues, except when cattle are passed in and not sold.

Again, how is it that Dunedin agents can go up-country for very long distances and there sell among, comparatively speaking, strangers for 2| per cent., and around here 3} per cent, is demanded ? Just fancy, if a farmer sells an £8 bullock, bo has to pay 7s to the agent for doing so.

Then as regards other produce. First take wheat. Why should the purchaser of wheat bo allowed 2j per cent, and the buyer of oats net cash ? Then again, the agent charges 5 per cent, on sales of chaff and potatoes. I myself have heard an agent say that he has known of cases when it would have paid the producer better to have sent his crop down the river than have sent it to Duuedin for sale; and no wonder, under the present scale of charges.

Perhaps if I were to show what we are paying for sales of oar produce in another way, it may be more in the way a farmer reckons up matters. First, take odo bullock—it will take a fair farm to fatten ono per acre—say at £8. We pay at present for the sale 7j, which means 7s per aero. Tben take wheat, say an average crop, 30 busbelfi per acre, at 3s p>r bushel, which make 3 90.», for which sale we pay 4s 6d per acre. Then take potatoes, say eight tons per acre, at 50a per ton, for which S3le we pay 20a per acre. And so on. I have not mentioned bags, as I do not think the Agent has very much feeling one way or tho other in this matter.

Now, Sir, I am not in the general sense of the word an advocate of unious; still I am sure that if thera was n little more unanimity among farmers it would be much better for themselves.

I do not see how anyone cau blame the agent if the farmers remain quiescent;, and I refer to our stock and station agents when I say wo have a reasonable and honourable set of men who, if approached, would, I have no doubt, meet farmers and others in their wishes.— I am, &c, April 23. Colonial.