FARMERS AND TRADING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 49, 18 July 1914, Page 6

FARMERS AND TRADING.

THE (.'(.)-(IPI'.UATIVK OIUiASTSATIuN SUUIFTV. WILL CDMMF.Nt V. (IPFIIATIOXS AT IXCI.KWtIHD. ' STOCK SAI.FVAKDSTO UK KRKv TFI). There was a. big-atteiidanee of farmers at luglewood yesterday ill the meeting of the' Fanners' Co-operative Orgaui-.a-ti.m Society for the purjuise of di-.eu-s----ing the all'airs of the Society, and principally the prospects of getting sullieient support with a view to making a start in the Inglewood district. As the outcome of the meeting, sullieient share capital was subscribed t" warrant the Association erecting saleviirds at Inglewood, am! a start will probably be made at once. Mr. (.!. 11. lluekeridge, chairman of directors, presided over an attendance of about farmers. Other directors present were Messrs .1. U. Corrigan, D. Todd. \\~. Skedgwell and \Y. .Jones. Mr. I'.iiekeridge outlined the bislorv of the Society at length, ami showed how successful 'it had already been since inception. Its business hud more than doubled in the three months of its existence. '• The Society had opened up a new branch, having taken up a machinery agency from the International IKu'-. vester Company, and in four days at the llawera Show had disposed of machinery valued at .C2IIOO on commission. Til,, directors, lie said, bad been put in a no sition of trust, and must carry on tie: all'airs on sound business lines, and must be careful not to start saleyards in any district unless they could be assured of getting sullieient support in that district, so that each district could can,- the burden of its own branch on its shoulders. The directors, he continued, bad decided that it would not he advisable to ((insider tlie starting of a branch in any district unless £5(11)0 |.">HO shares) of capital was subscribed in that district. At present subscribed ad shares. Inglewoed 31)0 share., and Frenui til) shares. Hi: pointed out the advantages the farmers would rc(ci.v in the purchase of all requisites and machinery at a minimum of cost, and any profits would go into the pockets of the shareholders as interest on share capital and bonuses on sales. There was, too, a big saving in commission on stock sales'to consider. The Society could supply them with manures on as' good terms' as. or better than, anyone else, and he instanced slag, which they could have landed at the breakwater had they had the orders. They did not propose to under-cut prices, as that was bad business, because any prolits could be handed back. lie reiterated that as soon as sullieient share capita! was sulisi rih.-d to warrant doing so on sound lines, they were prepared to start saleyards in Inglewood. Other concerns I of a similar nature had proved eminently successful. He referred to the ventures at Clcristchurch, Hamilton and Wbangarei. The success that their own conI eel u had shown in sium a short time was I proof that Taranaki was absolutely the I h'-st district in Xew Zealand in which to j :■ i;iri. such a concern, as it was unre i losei.v populated and wealthier per capita than any other part of Xew Zealand, and had within it men who were as well educated in running co-operative ,'oncenis such as this a-, it would lie 00-',-hible to lind ill Xew Zealand or in ftny part of the world. The fanners' biirtiuess, he said, was principally :t maim- , fai-turing one. They turned the raw product-i.e.. seeds, manure, etc.—into finished articles of diet. Hvorv manufacturing business had three legs (o stand on, each as important us the oth-r two. viz.. purchase, manufacture and sale. lie -poke at length to stow that the farmers at present were weak regarding the two former, and had no leg at all to stand on in regard to the flatter. How. therefore, could they cs:- | poet to be successful t lie urged the necessity of organising so fts to place the whole of their business on a systematic basis. Mr. .1. It. Corrigan said they must not think that this end of the district was being neglected because saleyards we'e being erected at Opunake. The position'was that t!ie. support at that end was such that they could not refuse t.ie re.|Uest. In reply to a question Mr. Puiekeriilge stated tliat it was not proposed to run a store at present, as that m.-aut locking up too much capital in stock. Three of their agents w ire present and would take orders for anything that' might \<> required on a wholesale basis, Some discussion then ensued as to whether Inglewood should be given th-' beiielit of' the Midhirst and I'ren-li shares. It was pointed out that Stratford ami W'aitara districts might require those when they were ready to start. It was decided'that for the present thev would count in Ingle.wood's quota, which left the district !M shares short of the required number. These !1() were subscribed ill ' the room, and Mr. lluekeridge announced that up-to-date saleyards would be erected in the district, and asked those present to rcoinmenil a suitable site. He further urged on them the necessity of being loy.l once the business was started in Inglewood. Votes of thanks concluded a very ?u ■■ ocsiful meeting.