PRODUCERS AND SALESMEN 205 



There is no need, however, for me to adduce all the 

 specific instances that have been brought to my know- 

 ledge in different parts of the country, because the 

 proposition that effective organization on the part of 

 the producers should, among other things, lead to their 

 being far less ' at the mercy ' of salesmen and commis- 

 sion agents than is possible under existing conditions 

 needs no arguments for its establishment. Combina- 

 tion would, in fact, where it is really practicable, not 

 only enable them to group and to grade their consign- 

 ments this being the first step towards better market 

 prices but would decrease the risk of having dealings 

 with untrustworthy men, and increase the probability 

 of their getting the prices to which they were entitled 

 In any case, what is wanted is that the producer him- 

 self should gain more control over the market, reduce 

 the middleman element to the lowest practicable propor- 

 tions, and secure alike a reasonable guarantee of honest 

 trading, better returns, and less risk of falling into the 

 hands of individuals who may be financially unsound, 

 if not a good deal worse. There is certainly no more 

 effective way of realizing these conditions than by 

 combined effort. 



Speaking generally, co-operative sale, and the greater 

 control of the market following thereon, are secured 

 much more readily when applied to commodities of a 

 particular kind produced in large quantities, and mainly 

 of uniform quality, allowing of the different lots being 

 mixed together without material loss of character. 

 Corn, factory-made butter, milk, eggs, bacon, apples, 

 plums and other fruits, for example, lend themselves 

 more to grouping, grading, or collective sale than 

 miscellaneous lots of garden produce, for which urgency 

 of despatch is essential. But, where the system can be 

 adopted, the benefits are undeniable, alike for ' small ' 



