FARMERS' CO-OPERATING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 184, 13 April 1915, Page 4

FARMERS' CO-OPERATING.

(Tr> the Editor.) .Sir,-—Your leading article of Thursday last cm ih c above subject actuates me to request space to clear one or two points which may otherwise appear obscure to your readers. Your femmente on Mr Leigh Hunt's address infer that the eMaUisliment of a branch of a Co-operation Company in a town of the sire of Taihape was rather la the nature of an experiment. "Tis true that the greatest co-operation concern in the world is in the densely populated Mother Country, and there controllied by consumers and not farmers. Figures in connection therewith were quoted by Mr Hunt to show the immense success that thja co-operation movement is capable of. In fact no address on the subject would be complete without reference to the wonderful growth of the co-operative societies of England. It is, however, the instances of success, ful co-operation in our own land that are of direct interest to the farming community, and consideration of any proposal having local application. As you have not quoted Mr Hunt in this rospect, I desire to supply the details h« gav e at the meeting. Thera erre ten large and prosperous farmers’ co-operative companies established in New Zealand. The largest .is the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op-erative Association of Canterbury. It has 7/00 shareholders, an authorised capital of on© million sterling, over half of which is subscribed. Its total turnover last year was £3,252.,000, and its njet profits £56,321 which were distributed as follws:

Eight per cent dividend oh capital, 5 per cent.bonus on- purchases, 30 per, cent, rebate on Commissions. This Company like many of the others has successful branches established in towns of far lesser size than Talhape. What has been accomplished by the co-operative in Canterbury has also been assured in a lesser degree by the other nine cooperatives operating from Hawke’s Bay to Southland. It does not take a very quick brain to realise the greater success that must result from the banding together of these societies for the purpose of collective buying. In your leader you instance the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association and ask of what use it is to the farming community from a co-opera-tive point of view. In this connection I have on«/ to state that the said Association is not cne of the ten "coops.” that were invited to join in the federation. < Your mention cf the Taihape Freezing Company as an. instance likely to greatly benefit farmers and an enterprising example of the farmers’ business instincts Is without question, and indicates that the same principle as applied to the marketing of wool, etc. and the procuring of farm supplies will also appeal to our local producers, which prophecy is already borne out by thte practical support given to Mr Hunt’s suggestions within the last few days. In conclusion I wish to iemphatically state that no one who heard Mr Hunt’s clear and explicit address could appreciate your reference to “suppresslo veri” or the “suggestio falsi” which from every point of view was in this instance to say the least of it, a particularly inappropriate _phrase.—l am, etc., Li. DAWS, Secretary Farmers’ Union, Taihape. (To thje Editor). Sir, —Councillor Aldridge has gone to a great deal of trouble to inform the Borough Council and his acquaintances in the street, that the Council had extended the sjewerage main to my property, free of cost,, and now makes a further rash statement as reported by you that I had the water installed at a cost of £3O, thereby doing him an injustice. As far as the injustice i s concerned. Councillor Aldridge has not given the details of the negotiations leading up to the extension of the mains In question. However, in future, it would be just as well if he took the trouble to verify his statements. —I am, etc., F. W. STRINGER, Taihape, April 12.

The annual meeting of the Tihape Chamber of to be Hd Monday evening next, at 8 o ’eldfc. Our young men are advised tht t&e Taihape Gymnasium opens to-nigt fosthe winter season in the. Pfesbreria® Hall, Huia Street, Everybody is invited to join* A meeting of the general coimittee of the Rangitikei Agricultural an toral Association will be held t the Association’s offices to-morrow Wednesday) evening at S o’clock. Tenders are invited by Mr. EL S. Doherty, architect, for plumbinj -and drain-laying at Mr. Healey’s beadinghouse. Tenders are receivable id till Saturday, 17th April. Farmers are reminded of the meting in connection with the Californian thistle, which is to be held to-mrrow (Wednesday) morning at half-pas tea, in the Town Hall (Supper Room) A

meeting of shareholders of the Otahape Farmers’ Meat and Produce Conpany will be held directly afterwards.