FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2366, 16 October 1880, Page 2

FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Report of the Committee appointed at a public meeting held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, on August 28, 1880, for the purpose of forming a Farmers Cooperative Association:— Your Committee has the honor to report that it has held sittings on kept, ember 4, 11, and 18, and on October 2 and 16, and it now begs to submit to the public the result of its labors. After due consideration, your Committee reports unanimously in favor of the formation of a co-operative association. It believes co-operation to be based on the soundest of commercial principles, having, as it has, for its object the minimizing of all expenses as between producer and consumer. The success to which similar societies have attained in the United Kingdom, America, and on the Continent of Europe gives your Committee every confidence that a similar success will attend the present movement in New Zealand. The satisfactory returns given by associationsnow in operation are simply without precedent, and when it is remembered that the largest of these associations started from the smallest of beginnings, your Committee cannot hesitate in coming to the conclusion that co-operation is based on the soundest principles of political economy—hence its success.

Whilst your Committee is prepared if necessary, to advise you to commence operations in ns humble a way as did many of the parent institutions in other countries, it cannot but feel that the aim of the Society should be to include in its sphere of action the whole of Canterbury and, if possible, of New Zealand.

Your Committee has already received a resolution of sympathy, and a hope to this effect from the Courtney Farmers’ Club, and a request for a copy of its rules from the Kangitikei Farmers’ Club, No doubt when tiie objects of the Association become more generally known similar resolutions from other Farmers’ Clubs will be received.

Before concluding its report your Committee begs to call your attention to the following facts :—Firstly. That similar institutions are now being formed in both Victoria and South Australia with every prospect of success. Secondly. That whereas in 1801 the capital employed in the United Kingdom in cooperation was but £383,290 in the short space of 17 years, namely, in 1878 the share capital had been augmented to nearly £0,000,000, whilst the saving to the consumer on each individual transaction may safely be reckoned at 20 per cent, or at 4s in the £ on articles of consumption.

Your Committee is of opinion that on articles of consumption at least an equal reduction may be relied upon in New Zealand, whilst on articles of export, such as corn, wool, &c., very possibly a reduction of from 3 to 5 per cent will be attained. In order that the advantages of cooperation may be placed before the public in the fullest possible manner, your Committee have deemed it advisable to secure the services of Mr Bateman, of Christchurch, for the purpose of delivering lectures on the subject in all the principal towns of South Canterbury. The prospectus of the proposed Association will be ready for publication in a few days.