FARMERS' CO-OPERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 138, 29 October 1912, Page 4

FARMERS' CO-OPERATION.

A BIG SCHEME. A meeting of farmers interested in the formation of a co-operative auctioneering company was held in Hawera on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Buckeridgc said that since the last meeting some months ago he had been around the district fairly extensively, and the promises of support received were an indication to him that it twas time that the farmers in Taranaki had their own co-operative company going. When he addressed the meeting first hi# proposal was that a farmers' co-opera-tive auctioneering company should be formed, but from what he heard as the result of extensive enquiries made, he had come to the conclusion that it would he better to go a step further, and form a Farmers' Co-operative Society. That would give a -wider scope to the company than a farmers' co-operative auctioneering concern. He had been approached by quite a number of people in North Taranaki, and even in New Plymouth itself, to proceed with the formation of the wider organisation. He was throwing this suggestion out, as it had been given to him, and he did not wish to force the farmers of South Taranaki to adopt it if they did not desire the wider proposal. He "went on to show how similar organisations in other parts of the Dominion had progressed, and mentioned in particular the Waikato, New Zealand Farmers', and South Canterbury Associations. Considering the rapid strides made in Taranaki, it was time the farmers of the province had their own organisation, similar to thos# operating in other districts of New Zealand. He gave many reasons why such organisations had failed previously in Taranaki, the chief of which were' the shortage of capital, the disloyalty of shareholders, the lack of efficient management. He said the provisional prospectus of the South Taranaki Farmers' Co-operative Association Limited, was that the capital be £250,000, divided into 25,000 shares of £lO each. It was proposed to call up £1 on application, 10b on allotment, and tlie balance, up to £5 per share, in calls of 10s per share, at intervals of not less than three months. It was proposed that applications for 2000 shares be the minimum the directors can proceed to allotment upon; and the limit of the number of shares to be held by any person or firm to be 200 shares. The objects of the organisation would be to carry on the business of auctioneering, in all its branches, and the importation and sale of seeds, grain, chaff, manures, farm implements, etc.; to acquire premises where best obtainable, and in the most suitable positions; and to erect saleyard# whenever necessary and sufficient inducement offers; and to obtain the service* of the best managers and salesmen procurable. The ehairman moved, and it was carried, " That this meeting of farmers is in sympathy with the movement to start a farmers' co-operative organisation for Taranaki, and will support it if it can be successfully started and adequately capitalised."

The following were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, to forward the object of the meet ing:—Messrs. Barclay, ' Death, Tarrant. Gibson, Batten, jun„ Wills, and Buckeridge.—Hawera Star.