THE MARKETING OF PRODUCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19386, 23 January 1925, Page 4

THE MARKETING OF PRODUCE.

TO TUB EDITOR.

Sin,—Your correspondent's report of an intoviow with Professor Maoklin, tho cooperative expert, is most opportune, and the part of it relating to the selection of capable and experienced men to carry out tho marketing of our produce touches tho veuk spot in the formation of our moat and dairy pools, and, indeed, most of our co operative concerns. Apart from his unwillingness to pay for expert knowledge, the farmer regards himself as a jaek-ot-all-trades, and has an inhcioot objection to allow any townsman to interfere with any of his co-operative ventures, hut as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so also is the capacity for management rhown in tho latest balance sheets of most of tho farming co-operative companies. This want of marketing and companymanagement experience in the appointees of both our moat and dairy pools is generally regarded as tho weak spot, and, reading between tho lines, Professor Macklin is of tho same opinion, as it is notorious that tho chief Panjandrum of both, who has most to say, probably Ims less experience than any of ihe others. Most of fho appointees are competent fanners, but completely out of their element as managers of commercial business, ami, for aught wo know, producers may now ho paying very dearly for their experience, as we read that thoir presence at Homo has creaied comment, in Wmithlicld and Tooloy street, and may partly account for tho phenomenal drop in the price of both butter and cheese. They are adepts at calculating the gain on any freight or insurance contract they may enter into, but losses are always due to something beyond (heir control, and generally attributed to someone else. [ have no other end to serve than a desire to soo the best done for the producer, and a consuming wish to see the management of these hugo concerns in tho hands of more capable and experienced men. If wo had someone like Professor Macklin in charge. 1 would, as an interested party, bo content to sec them all retire.—l am, etc., Kx-Merohaxt Farmer.