Auctioneering is the very essence of a consumer driven profession. In recent years it has been open season on auctioneers' fees with current fee percentages being merely a fraction of those prevailing in the early 1990s, while the percentage taken by the auctioneers who actually sell properties has been falling. With regard to sealed bids, I agree with Senator Ross that if an auction is by private tender, the bidders or their representatives should be allowed to attend the opening of the tenders.