FARMERS AS TRADERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 671, 23 May 1914, Page 2

FARMERS AS TRADERS.

The fourth annus! meeting of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union Trading and Indenting 1 * Aajociation, Limited, was held on Wednesday morning, at Auckland. About 70 delegates were present, and Major D. H. Lußk was in the chair. In moving the adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet, the president said that a business such as this should not be expected to show large profits. The benefit of these were secured by members in their buyn.g and selling. Nevertheless members has provided a dividend-bearing capital of £3OOO, and during the year the average amount of purchases for each member was £6G 15s, with an aerage profit by "saving" of over £6 per member. Since last year the membership had increased from 891 to 1530, no less than 64 having joined la 3t month. The attitude of some purely wholesale merchants towards the association was decidedly friendly, which was a most encouraging feature of their work. The objects of the trading association we-re, the president said, to induce farmers to become really live members of the Farmers' Union, and to benefit them financially by buying for them all article required by them all in the best market and distributing same at cost price leas the actual cost of handling. Trade marks had been established during iha year, and preparation had been made for organising the banking department. An egg branch had also been established with remarkable suzceEs, The prospectß for next year's business, based upon the turnover of Febrary. March, and April iast, and allowing for normal increase in members, would average £12,000 per month, and should make possible s» total turnover of £150,000 for thhe year. The annual report and balance-sheet were, after discussion, unanimously adopted.

Messrs A. D. Bell and Jas. Boddie and Captain Colbeck were re-elected to the directorate, and Mr J. V. Maclcay was re-appointed auditor. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the officers and staff of the association for their work of the past year.