Page 14 Advertisements Column 1

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2420, 27 March 1915, Page 14

REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT OR CO-OPERATION. A PROSPEROUS AND PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS. The term co-operation, as Holyoaka: points out in : his well-known' history of the movement, was' "originally used in. the sense of communism, as denoting a general re-arrangement of Bociety for the mutual benefit of all concerned in sustaining it." In later years, however, its ■usage became restricted to the humbler operations of "buying and selling provisions." But this was not to be the fixed .and final meaning of the word. Ever since the year 1811, when the plan*, was introduced of giving profits not only to the shareholders, but in part to the purchaser, the co-operative principle has been applied to innumerable departments of human activity, including those of the pastoralist and agriculturalist. For a striking testimony to the remarkable, development of this phaso of co-operation we should read the impressive statement' published on the leader page of this, issue, at the instance of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd. This progressive and prosperous association of farmers was established thirtyfour years ago. With a head officp and warehouse at Cashel Street, Christchurch, branches in the leading, towns of Canterbury, and agencies throughout New Zealand and Australia, if has facilitated the transmission of the farmers' produce to market, and supplied the personal and household needs of its shareholders and others on the most, advantageous terms. It has also conducted with success the business of auctioneers,'land and estate agents, up-to-date registers being kept of properties in all parts of the Dominion. An idea of tlio substantial naturo of the transactions of this company can'be gathered from the figures given in the statement already referred to. '• "It will bo seen that the aggregate turnover for the year-ending July 31, ,1913. was no less a sum tlmn .£3,389,426, an achievement of which the company is justifiably proud. The authorised capital of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., is .£1,250,000, half of which has been subscribed, with .£210,500 still to be called up. Tho reserve fund is credited with .£122,000. These wonderful figures speak well for the caution and foresight with which' this concern is governed, and it may be reasonably expected that in the future developments of co-operation in this part of the world, the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., will still play an important part.-i Advt-.