DANISH METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 3

DANISH METHODS.

S' UCCFSS F FT, CO-OP F. R ATI ON. CHICAGO, November 20. High standing of Danish agriculture is due chiefly to the co-operative system of Inlying and selling and not to character of soil or climate, Mr T. C. Thomson, of Copenhagen, managing director of a manufacturing concern and a director of Rotary International, told members of the. City Club of Chicago. Application of natural sciences and research work and the high standard of education of farmers lie also attributes as causes. Tlie speaker said that practically all Danish farmers arc owners of their farms.

“ Membership in the co-operative societies is open to all, and each man has one vote, members being jointly responsible* financially,” he explained. “Herein lies the great strength of the cooperative societies. In 1924 the cooperative dairies turned 1.300,000 tons of milk into butter. Co-operative slaughter houses exported 4.000,000 pigs in the form of bacon, and cooperative egg companies 05.000 tons of

“The greater number of co-operative societies are associated in a central organisation : flic Union of Danish Cooperative Societies. This union, together with the co-operating Danish Farmers’ Societies, the Co-operating Small-Holders’ Associations and the Royal Agricultural Council, nominates representatives for the Agricultural Council, which has for its object promotion of animai husbandry and plant cultivation by means of expert advisers. promotion of experimental research and other promotion. As a consequence the last generation has seen a rapid growth of breeding societies for cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, and control societies, which control efficiency of each cow separately. “Danish farmers are eager to apply results of experimental research work on their farms. No laud is allowed to remain idle.” Speaking of social conditions, .Mr Thomsen stated that “an excellent hoard of arbitration is established to settle labour disputes so as to prevent as far as possible cessation of work over long periods of time by strikes or lock-outs.” Average earnings during 1924 of Danish workers, he revealed to have been forty-five rents an hour for skilled men. thirty-five cents for unskilled men and twenty-three cents for women.