464 DISPOSAL AND SALE OF WOOD. 



large and petty sales. The theoretical idea of an auction-sale 

 involves the assumption that every competitor is present 

 merely on his own account, and that a coalition among the 

 competitors is impossible : coalition cannot, however, be pre- 

 vented, provided it is agreed upon freely by the competitors ; 

 it is illegal only when brought about by threats, etc. The 

 seller must, therefore, endeavour to guarantee himself against 

 the damage he may suffer owing to coalition at auctions. 

 Almost the only remedy available is to stop the sale, and 

 adopt measures to improve the competition of purchasers. 

 Among these are the following : advertising widely (this, how- 

 ever, presupposes sufficient wood to attract distant purchasers); 

 sub-division of the sale-lots into smaller ones, so that it may 

 be possible for poorer purchasers to compete ; finally, avoid- 

 ance of all burdensome sale-conditions that reduce competi- 

 tion. A further measure against coalition is to adopt another 

 mode of sale. [A common method of prejudicing sales by 

 auction occurs in Britain and probably elsewhere. As soon 

 as the sale-catalogues are out, timber-merchants meet and 

 appoint a chairman, who acts as a private auctioneer and puts 

 up each lot to the company present ; they then run it up to a 

 fair market-price. At the real auction, afterwards, the pur- 

 chaser is not opposed by any of the clique and has only the 

 competition of a few outsiders to contend with. After the real 

 auction the clique meet and divide among themselves the 

 difference between the real and mock auction prices, very 

 often a considerable sum practically taken from the forest- 

 owner. Tr.] 



There are also first principles of justice as well as of self- 

 interest, which should always induce the seller to avoid all 

 conduct on his part which may hinder a proper price being 

 paid, or lead to coalition of the purchasers. 



ii. Sale of Standing Tree*. 



The sale of standing trees, especially with the right of fell- 

 ing and conversion by the purchaser, is preferred frequently 

 by wood-merchants and large dealers in timber to that of 

 converted wood. This is explained easily by the fact that in 

 the former case the wood-merchant can convert and remove 



