60 



placed before the client at the right moment. At tlir 

 same time the price is fixed to the mutual convenience 

 of both parties. The seller obtains an adequate remuner- 

 ation for the trouble taken in disposing of the goods to- 

 the buyer's convenience, which means that the maximum 1 

 price is paid the farmer -for his labours, after deducting 

 the cost of storage. 



The advantage of supplying goods when they are- 

 demanded b}^ the consumer, at the convenience of the 

 buyer not at the will of the seller, is too evident to need 

 emphasizing . 



NEW HARVEST WHEAT PRICES v. OLD WHEAT. 



What would be said if our bakers insisted on our 

 taking in a year's supplies of bread at a time? No mat- 

 ter what' reasons were urged for so doing not a single 

 person would be disposed to listen to such a proposal, 

 even if the articles offered were at an absurdly cheap 

 price. The proposal would be scoffed at; yet this is 

 precisely what we have been doing for years, with dis- 

 astrous results to our pockets. 



Through the absence of proper storage, our crop 

 must be shipped away as soon as it is harvested, which 

 means equal congestion and disorganisation for shipper 

 and receiver. 



Inasmuch as the European markets are not prepar- 

 ed to receive the avalanche of our crops, and we in 

 on selling them, the speculator is able to step in. The 

 speculators themselves are interested in varying the ar- 

 rivals on the markets to suit requirements and their own- 

 conveniences, and so we see the same curious spectacle 

 repeated every year. First the crop is rushed away, 

 which helps to keep down buying prices, then the ships 

 are kept dawdling about en route to keep up prices <m 

 the foreign markets. Ships have to serve as storage- 

 places with a correspondingly higher charge for freights. 

 The difference remarked between freights for Argentine 

 ports and those ruling for other countries has alw 

 . been a theme for discussion, but though bad weather 

 (which impedes loading), or other delays, may keep a 

 ship hanging about for weeks in foreign ports, heavily 

 increasing her expenses in Argentine ports, there is in- 

 variable detention during the rush of shipments in mid- 

 season. This, of course, must be made up in extra 

 freight. 



SHIPPING RATES PENALISED. 



Shipowners are also aware that the non-existence of 

 any place to keep the crop means that it must be dis- 



