10 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL sourNAL. [1 Jury, 1898. 
MARKETS, MARKETING, AND THE BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF 
FARMERS’ PRODUCE. 
[By F. W. Prex, Loganholme.] 
Before reading the paper on this subject standing in my name, I would desire to 
record the assistance 1 have received from Mr. J. D. Kitchie (Secretary of the 
Department of Agriculture, New Zealand), Mr. G. Jameson (manager of the 
Farmers’ Co-operative Association, of Canterbury, New Zealand), and Mr. H. L. E. 
Riithning (Brisbane), who have kindiy forwarded me papers and information that have 
‘given me great assistance in dealing with this question. ‘Lhe reason I selected this 
paper is because I have been in receipt of a large correspondence from farmers and 
members of the association and others living in the district which I have the honour 
to represent at this Conference, and also from other associated bodies, pointin x out 
the evils of the present system (or want of system) in the disposal of agricultural and 
horticultural products ; and this being a question of vital importance to the agricul- 
tural community of Queensland is well worthy of every consideration. Up till very 
recent times the markets and tbe marketing haye been of a very primitive description. 
Many farmers followed the old-fashioned custom of bringing their produce into town 
(when their closeness to towns allowed of such being done) by spring carts, wagons, 
&c., hawking what they may have to dispose of—it may be fruit, butter, eggs, 
potatoes, &c.—from door to door. Others, again, take their produce to stores and 
retail dealers, and, following the usual custom, have allowed such storekeepers and 
dealers to actually fix the price they themselves should pay for it, and it can be 
fairly stated that the farmer gets no more than the shopkeepers and dealers can 
possibly help. Others, again, send their produce by railway or boat, and consign it to 
agents for competition in open markets to auctioneers, &c., whose conditions are that 
the farmer or consignee has to pay such agents from 5 or 7} to 10 per cent. 
for selling. Then there are storage and wharf rates, railway freight charges, 
cartage, bags, bales, cases, &c., which all have to be deducted from the 
price obtained for the produce disposed of, and which, owing to the number 
of hands the produce has to pass through, each requiring a profit, have | 
given cause for complaint for farmers. Jn some instances letters have been 
published in the Press of this colony from indignant farmers who, after planting, 
growing, and gathering their crops, and sending them to the so-called market, have 
received a notice from their agents informing them that their produce sold had not 
(or barely) covered expenses. Surely, then, this question of providing a better 
system of marketing deserves every consideration. The desire of the farmers to 
control, as far as they possibly can, the prices to be obtained for their produce is not 
only natural but reasonable. The cut-throat system pointed out and the means 
hitherto used have not been the best, either in management or in the way of returns, 
to the pockets of those who have been the pioneers in opening up land, growing 
produce, and starting industries therefrom. Any person dealing with this question 
of markets, marketing, and the better distribution of farmers’ products must take 
into consideration the class of produce for which a market is required, and also the 
demand for such produce, which may be overproduced or insuiliciently produced, 
thus causing a so-called glut or otherwise. When produce is scarce, an artificially 
increased value arises. When the so-called good seasun comes round and the produce 
is plentiful, low values ensue and poor prices are obtained. Farmers suffer because 
their freights, rates,.and expenses are not lower proportionately—with the results, as 
before stated, of hardly being sufficient to clear expenses, and certainly not enough to 
fully repay them for their time and labour. ‘The question then arises—How is this 
overproduction to be avoided and a better distribution obtained? The answer is: By 
the combined action and co-operation of those interested. When the farmers of this 
colony realise that individual effort is powerless, the sooner wiil their conditions of 
being able to control the produce markets be attained. The farmers, by co-operating, 
have the power in their own hands of regulating the markets as to under or over 
production, and can, by their combined action, be the means of assisting the 
small farmer and the struggling settler from going to the wall, prevent the 
undue competition of one against the other, and enable him to get a fair price for 
his produce. In the matter of better means of distribution, great assistance could 
be given to farmers, and especially to those small farmers with a variety of crops, 
garden and fruits, &c., if a system of cheaper uniform railway freights could be 
adopted on all Queensland railways—say at 6d. per case of 56 lb. weight irrespective 
of distance. . Iam sure it would be the means of disposing of a quantity of produce 
tothose settled in the Western townships and lands of the colony. This matter has 
already been brought under the notice of the Railway and Agricultural Departments 
