CO-OPERATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 177, 31 March 1915, Page 4

CO-OPERATION.

MR LEIGH HUNT'S ADDRESS. A GOOD ATTENDANCE. “Tlie principles and advantages of cc-operaxion a s applied to farmers and their interests,” was the subject of an address delivered at the Fire Brigade Hall this morning by Mr A. Leigh Hunt, manager of the Farmers’ Co-op-erative Distributing Co. In the absence of the president of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, Dr Barnett, Mr D. McDonald was voted to the chair.

j Mr Richards formally introduced the speaker who was received with applause. Mr Hunt first referred to the necessity for the Farmers' Union, particularly as the farm labourers had embarked on a huge scheme of co-op-eration and consolidation with a view of getting an award under the Arbitration Act. He suggested a special meeting of the branch to devise ways and means ox meeting the farm workers’ organisation and demands which are a be id to be made. Speakint on the broad lines of do-operation, he pointed out that now that the Dom.uion i 6 becoming thickly populated, cooperation was able to become more successful than hitherto. The present campaign in favour of co-operation was the result of a decision by the Farmers’ Union to make the farmer acquainted with its advantages. In Denmark there are no less than 3,500 co-operative societies, who have done splendid work. There the 3,500 societies were condensed into one supreme body and greater success than before had been achieved, America and Germany had also benefited largely by co- ■ operation and Germany’s hold on the world’s trade was attributed to her co-operation in all classes of trade. England was the hom e of co-operation and the federation of several companies there had been productive of splendid results. In England the yearly output of the chief society was -£lO,000,000 and the society had ejected , over 50,000 houses for its employees. In Ireland, too, co-operation had in- , creased in membership from a meagrely 50 to 90,000. There were also co-op-erative banks which had conferred immense benefits on the community. Mr Hunt believed that many present ! difficulties between employer and em- ' plcye e would ha bridged by closer cooperation. He hoped that the output 1 from co-operative stores would convey ’ a .guarantee of quality. Coining hearer 1 home he instanced the success of the Canterbury Co-operative Society which • has a staff of 700 employees and last • year the turnover was £3,000,000 and ; profits, £52,000. All the shareholders ; received a substantial bonus. The ; company had its own bacon factory, s binder twine and manure works. The . Christchurch Company also had fifty , musicians and social performers organi ised from th e Employees, Co-operation entailed loyalty, faith and enthusiasm to achieve (good results. , The co-operative companies of New Zealand have comie to the conclusion . that it would he beneficial to consoli- , date and form a wholesale farmers’ co-operative company. This would , give better advantages in working for, supplies would be pooled and bought . collectively by a general manager in Lcnjlon, Collective purchases would bring many advantages ami little cap- : itd, comparatively, would be required. 1 When the movement is properly estah- ' listed it was hoped that the supreme organisation would handle all the meat, ! butler and farmers’ produce at present ■ dealt with by the minor co-operative 1 companies. In Bank charges alone it was estimated that, by consolidating, £IO,OOO would be saved each year and there would be an enormous saving in shipping freights. A recent rise in freights on basic slag entailed a cost of 50/ per ton from England to New ; Zealand. There was a. movement on foot to • obtain a substitute for basic slag in th 5 form of phosphate rock. The Jap- : anew- had seized Marshall Islands '• from the Germans and there were . several large deposits on these islands. ■ He hoped that, after this war, the Marshall Islands would be handed over to New Zealand. It would be dangerous to allow the rock deposits to be handed over to private organisation—it would bo a good thing for the farmer if the Government were to allow such a body as a federated co-opera-tive society to utilise the deposits at Marshall Islands. There were great possibilities in this direction. Such a society would he able to deal cheaply, expeditiously and efficiently with all the farmers' requirements. There would great developments in the trade of the world in the immediate future and if the farmers did not take the field at the present tim# then the present private companies would do so. The Federal co-operative movement meant increased trade, cheaper goods and co-operation between every society. It would benefit the farmer and indirectly the whole community. It would be necessary to benefit the condition {off the producers and so shave off the continual influx into the towns. At present the fanners had to giye a fare of 11b on every cwt of wool and a federated company would be able to bring sufficient pressure to bear to have this iniquity altered. - A great deal would be don e in the nature of opening up new marketu-“*th» Government did not display enough initiative , in thi s direction, He read g. re- ]

oaived from a resident of Peru who gave Instances the advantgates to b» gained and good prices to be secured by trading with Chili and Peru. '

Mr Hunt then stated the objects benefits or the New Zealand Farthers’ Co-operative Di'stributinjr, Co. -..'The company has been established eleven years, and is in a really good financial position, and had been dividendpaying for the last four years. Last month the cash sales wtefie £ 1,500 above February of last year. The company wanted more business, to enable it to (get full profits from the wool business and was offering 10,000 £1 shares for sale. The goal of the company was to establish a “full blown” co-operative concern the same a-s in Christchurch.

Mr O’Callaghan asked what capital would be required from this district to enable a local branch to be estabished.

Mr Hunt considered that £50,00(j in shares would need to be subscribed. Mr Gilchrist asked if a bulk store could be established 1 in Taihape. Mr Hunt considered that the establishment of a bulk store was the same as the establishment of a branch. Mr Revell moved a vote of thanks to I .■ Hunt for his address and the explicit manner he had dealt with his subject. Mr Field seconded the motion, - which was carried by acclamation, *