Sale of Live Stock by Weight.

Mr R. Reynolds moved, "That inasmuch as all the vegetable products of the farm an sold by weight it is suggested that fat cattle fat sheep and fat pigs should be sold in the same manner, and that all auctioneer selling at their own yards and every registered saleyard company be compelled to pa vide the necessary means for weighing animals at their yards, if requested to do a by a majority of stockholders selling in sue yards." He pointed out that the [unclear: practi] was largely in vogue in America, and was satisfactorily reported upon.

Mr Buchanan was in favour of the practice but did not think it should be made compulsory. However, the gain would be [unclear: enmous] if they effected the revolution propose He seconded the motion.

Mr Grigg said he would vote for the [unclear: moti] if the compulsory clause was left out, bu[unclear: t] thought there was not so much in the proposal as some seemed to think. The question of judgment and the question of the price per pound were very nearly the same, and it would only benefit those people who knew nothing about the weight of an animal, and who [unclear: ma] arrangements for selling their stock with a consulting a competent authority.

Mr Henderson thought scales would be [unclear: ve] useful in selling outside the yard, but [unclear: insi] the experts knew practically the exact weight and no more money would be got for a [unclear: be] page 27 even if it was accurately weighed, than under present circumstances.

Mr Pattullo said the buyers and sellers would simply have a little more guidance than at present.

Mr C. Brown remarked that the system would prove useful if the buyer said his steer was 8 cwt and the butcher contended it was only 6 cwt. (Laughter.)

Mr Fisher said the matter had been brought before the Conference simply to have it ventilated.

Mr Kirkbride favoured the principle contained in the resolution, but he did not like the compulsory clause.

Mr May said he had always found it most satisfactory to buy by weight.

Mr Reynolds said he had no objection to strike out the compulsory portion of the resolution.

The resolution as amended by substituting the word "requested" for "compelled" was agreed to unanimously.