PIG SALES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 11

PIG SALES.

METHOD CRITICISED. OLD SYSTEM FAVOURED. At the monthly meeting of the Waikato sub-provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the chairman, Mr T. H. Henderson, explained that as the result of a motion passed at a previous meeting with reference to the new ballot system of auctioning pigs at the local yards, several auctioneering firms had answered Lhe union’s letters.

The chief point they put forward in support of the new system was Ilia! a buyer could see al a glance what a farmer had to sell. Under the old system when a mixed lot were penned together a buyer did not know what a seller had to offer. It, was not likely Lhat there would ho any change at this stage of the season. Mr Henderson then asked for an expression of opinion by the meeting.

Mr W. Boyd said he was pleased to hear the auctioneers were so concerned over the farmers’ welfare. However, on any matter which was of importance to farmers the auctioneers should make a practice of consulting them prior to making any suggested change. That there was n-othing wrong with the ballot system, but with the way they worked it locally, was the opinion of Mr R. McCorquindaie. Now a man who arrived first after the scheduled time might have to wait till the pigs of a later comer were sold. A farmer did not want to hang about ail day. Mr Mackay asked whether the idea was to pen all of one man’s stocktogether. The auctioneers were noi doing it so far. In a higgledy-piggledy manner accommodation for pigs was spread all over the place at present, and buyers did not follow the auctioneers.

Mr Boyd concurred, saying that he had penned his stock together in one pen, and the next'day found that they had been taken out without his permission and penned with a lot of others. As a result he lost money. Mr Mackay thought the auctioneering companies shuold revert to the former order of selling pigs. The meeting decided to reiterate its previous decision that it was in the Interests of farmers that the old system should be reintroduced.