Farmers' Association

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 135, 7 May 1891, Page 2

Farmers' Association

From 40 to 50 people assembled in the Council Chambers at Marton, yesterday afternoon, to consider a proposal of form* ing a farmers' Union. Mr Marshall was appointed chairman, and he called upon Mr J. Stevens (of Bulls) to introduce the subject to the meeting, who said he would like to make a few preliminary remarks about tlie desirability of establishing a Farmers' Store, where the general business of a farmer may be conducted, such as selling produce, ' disposing of property,' etc., which, at the present time is being done by large firms. In all parts of the world these co-operative institutions succeed well, and for this reason, every shareholder would manage his own business. A good many people have an idea that the scheme would shut up all the stores, but he did not thirik anything of the kind would happen, but it would prevent the establishing of large commercial houses. v It had been stated that he was prompting this for the purI pose of getting a billet, but he stated he was prohibited by bond from taking any part in the management of any business relating to auctioneering. He then gave extracts from the reports of the Canterbury Association, which starteVlin 1880, showing the great success which had been attained by that society, which had nominal capital of .£250,000; but the amount of subscribed capital; was only In addition to a; -large bonus, this company paid a dividend of 7 per cent. In looking over their transactions be found they dealt largely in live stock, and he thought the principal business of the proposed company would be to dispose of live stock, and the large profits deriyed from that source would be shared by the farmers themselyes. . It was said this would be a great blow to the auctioneers, but he could not see it. In Christchurch the auctioneers did the work of the Association, and there are lots of room for the auctioneers to live in. this country. If we had about £10,000 Unvested under the auspicies of the-proposed'-company, there could be- no doubt it would be a success. -He thought the farmers would also be; able to get their moneycheapei- than the banks would lendit. Mr R. McKenzie said he had taken a good deal of interest in this matter, and he had seen a number of gentlemen who had promised to support tbe movement. If the. farmers in this district chose to go" on with it there can be ho doubt of ats success. The profits on the other Associations are larger than would appear at first sight. The Timaru society, it was stated, for the year 1890, had profits actually reaching 32 per cent on the paid up capital. Every' man who was a shareholder was a- client, and they should have the principle men in the district for their clients, andfor that reasonit must succeed. Mr ,R. Mcßenzie then proposed the foi- . lowing resolution : —That in the bpmipn of those preseut an Association should be 1 formed similar to the Farmers, Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury, Limited, with a nominal capital of £200.000, in •■ 40,000 shares of £5 each", payable as tho 1 Provisional Directors may: deter mine: Mi;C. Fitzherbert, seconded the motion. , Mr J. Baker, Wanganui, .^congratulated the projectors on their energy, and 1 said they ought to be satisfied with the representative gathering which had;responded to their invitation. He said J Wellington people had had prelimin--1 ary meetings and had issued a second 1 prospectus for the formation of a similar 1 society. Mr TK McDonald had taken the matter in haud, and would visit the towus along this coust to endeavour to form one great Association; ; A meeting ■ i had already" been held in Wanganui, but : , another one will be held there when the, . advisableness of joining it will be con- ? sidered. The great beuefit of co-opera- . tion to the settlers in ' Christchurch; 19 : thoir being: able to deal -with shippera 1 direct. With regard to sales! of stock one or' two auctioneers ip, the district had (offered to sell for the company for'op* and a half per cent. He thought^ • would be wise to hear what Mr T. JK. ' McDonald had to say on the matter be- ; fore deciding, as that gentlemam will, then inform us what arrangements have " been made for forming branches through. 1 out the : country in connection with- the- - . Wellington Association. By dealing in one channel a number of advantages would be gained, ins has been clearly. 1 shown by the successful efforts Nelson s Bros, are making to secure a monopoly. Dr Monckfcon said it appeared to him, before co-operation could be arrived at, they must be agreed, and several in the room had a notion that farmers shouldprotect themselves ; and also, when they put their stock in the market, the prices should not be trotted up by auctioneers' cattle being pnt in. He said the success- . of the Christchurch Association was due, in the first place, to the : manager havinohad a long experience amongst merchants^ . and they had not; many men in the dig;" trict of this kind. The farmer wanted • the best price for his produce, ahd to indent his. implements at the Howest cost, and this can be done by working on the lines of the Egmont Farmers Union. If sufficient inducement was offered the Hawera Society would establish a branch ' in this district. That company gets "2£ per cent off freights from the; shipping' agents, the manager is an insurance agent" and his commission is divided In implements they are allowed the wholesale- \ terms, , The following amendment was moved by Dr Monekton : That a Farmers' Union V be formed on the same lines as the-Eg- ' mont Farmers' Union, and that 6 men beappointed to^ draw up a prospectus andmake preliminary arrangements. This was seconded by Mr A. Mcßeth. Mr Stevens said their idea was to forirt. an association which should embrace thewhole West Coast, and leave the limitation of the sphere of action to the directors. If a start be made here, they should' still be in a position to make arrangements with the Wellington Society. Therewas one fact to be observed, it was- absolutely necessary to have a large yolumeof business, because, with a small busi- ■■■ ness the profits would be absorbed . ux salaries and expenses. The Chairman then put the amendment to the meetings but it received no support, A show of hands was then called for the original motion, which was declared carried, no opposition being expressed. Mr McKenzie moved: That the provisional memorandum as read be adopted with power to alter by the provisional directors; seconded by Mr Stevens and carried. One hundred and five shares, of £5 each were subscribed for by those present. It was agreed that a similar meeting be held m Palmerston and Feilding next week, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and for the use of the Council Chambers, brought the meeting to a close.