FARMERS' CLUBS AND THE AUGTIONEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2789, 29 May 1890, Page 2

FARMERS' CLUBS AND THE AUGTIONEERS.

♦ TO THXI EDITOR. Sin,—Now that the YVaifoito Far me s' Club have finished with the Tauranga JL'Veezintr works, it would be a good time to turn their attention to something else that effects their interests. One is the small bird nuisance, more particularly the English skylark, onp of the greatest pests in the country, and only tu be kept under by the united body of fanners. This should be taken in hand by the Counties, and all main roads be sown with poisoned wheat during the frosty mornings, such places to be sown near bits of green couch grass growing by the road side, as these places are the resort of skylarks in the winter. Another thing that effects the farmers is the abuse of the auctioneers. Lately they have been making a special charge of 2s 6d ontranco fee at their horse sales. This I maintain is an abnse, and I am very much mistaken if the farmers submit to it. When the auctioneers met the farmers at Ohaupo some time ago to explain why it was necessary to raise the charges, it was poverty and hard times. Mr Bucldand snid that if their fees were not raised they could not possibly live, which was coincided in by Mr Hunter. Now their successors in a manner do not make this plea, but I take it, are doing so much business that a special day has to be set aside for the sale of horses, for which they make an exorbitant charge, instead of which they should bo thankful to have ao much business to do, and these special sales, as days of clear profit, as it keeps their men in employment, when they would be otherwise idle. I hope the above will be ventilated at the next meeting of the Farmers' Clubs. There is also anotherquestion in connection with tho auctioneers that, is commencing an hour or an hour and-a-half after the time advertised. Now in these short days it makes it very inconvenient for all concerned, as late starting makes it late ending, and sales are continued until long' after dark. Now, I maintain, if there is no law or bylaw to guide them in this matter, there should lie one to prevent them becoming a public nuisance. There is no reason why the auctioneers should not do their business in business hours any more than anyone else. Hoping the above will receive the auctioneers' and the public's attention. —I am, yours truly, 0, K.