RABBITSKIN MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 18

RABBITSKIN MARKET.

Remshaebt, M'Donald, and Co., manufacturers' agents, Bond street, report as follows :— Considering the season of the year a large business has been done since our last. Supplies are coming forward freely, but as yet no prime skins have reached us. The lots mentioned below consist of summer and autumns, with a few early winters. The market continues firm, and as we see no reason for any immediate decline, we would strongly re-

commend rabbiters and others not to be led into eellirig their winter collections by contract, except^ of course, they obtain a much better price than was ruling last season.' ' To point out why prices we pay privately are so much higher than those obtained at the local auction sales we may mention a fact' that is not generally known to people throughout the country. ' In the first place the auctioneer not only charges 2£ per cent, to the seller, but, (and here lies the bone of contention) inflicts upon us as buyers a further 1\ per cent, which they are pleased to term delivery. From the foregoing it will clearly be seen tbat all those personß who sell through an auctioneer are lOßers to the extent of 5 per cent., which, on best skins, means about one penny per pound. To put the case forward as clearly as possible we will cite a shipper who buys for 5 per cent, commission on the actual price paid for the skins, on the one hand he only gets 2k per cent, on auction purchases, while on all those obtained privately he, makes full commission. It is needless for us to say which of the two he would prefer.

Of course there is always two sides to a question. We are fully alive to the fact that as a rule it is much better to place produce and other goods under the hammer and thereby secure competition, but in our line it is quite different, for we are simply agents for the manufacturer, who instructs us what price to pay, and allows us a commission. Ab we are unable to make any profit outside the, latter it is to our advantage to give full limits, as the higher the price the better our commission. On the other hand, it has frequently happened to us to procure skins in auction considerably below our valuations, which, under the system we are working, was not in pur favour but in that of our principals.

' Next week we will quote figures to prove that the total expenses on rabbltskins, including local and London sale charges, average from 30 to 40 per cent. We do not here intend to come forward as champions for the producer (that is, speaking generaliv) but will content ourselves with saying that' their ever kind and attentive servants (N.B.— This is sarcasm), the agents (not only here, but elsewhere), reap— while sitting leisurely back in their easy chairs— the bulk of the plunder in the shape of excessive charges.

Subjoined are our transactions for the week :— XL, 5 bags, Is 3d ; HMK, 2 bags, Is 4£d ; MW, 1 ,bag r Is 3d ; HO, 2 bags, Is 2^d ; RP, 3 bags, lOd ; WD, 2 bags, Is 3d ; 1 do, Is ; 1 do, lOd ; 1 do, Is 3d ; WB, 1 do, le ; SM, 1 do, 8d ; WHE, 1 do, BJd ; GBP, 1 bale, lid ; WH, 4 bags, lid ; 3 bags, Bd ; DT, 2 do, Is 3d ; 3 do, 7d ; WS, 1 bag, lOd ; WG, 6 do, lOd ; 1 do, 7d ;' 16 do, 6d ; JM'G, 2 do, B|d ; JD, 1 do, Is ; JP, 1 do, 6d ; HW, 1 do. Is 2d ; JD, 4 do, 8d; JW, 1 do, 10d; KM. 1 do, lid; 08, 1 do, 6(1 j CM, 1 do. Is ; G, WS, 1 bag, Is ; JM'D, 4 do. Is 3d ; JC, 1 bag, Is 3d; Dunnet; 6 do, Is 3d; LFB, 5 do, 6d ; WF, 1 do, Is 3d ; MB, 1 bag, 9d ; 1 bag, 8d ; fin circle, 1 bale, 9d; 1 bale, 6d; RUNDEL, 2 bags, Is 3d; 2 do, 8d; TUFFLBY, 1 do. Is 3d; 1 do, lOd; 3 do, 7d ; ELLIS, 1 bag, Is 3d ; 4 do, Is 2d ; 5 do, 6jd ; B, 4 do, 6d ; 1 do, Id ; AC in square, 1 bag, 9d ; GG in square, 1 do, 8d; MW, 2 bags, Is 3d; 3 do, B|d ; and 1 do, 4d. Horsehair remains at Is per lb.