EXTENSION OF CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1915, Page 7

EXTENSION OF CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT.

(Contributed). Dairymen throughout the province road with groat interest the published reports of the different companies' annual meetings. In the Kaupokonui Company's report a query elicited the fact that that company had not as yet joined the Federation of Co-operative Organisations, but were considering the question. It seems strange that the average individual lias not kept in touch with the spread of co-operation, and also what it means to the community. As a rule the present dairy or bacon businesses represent the full scope of cooperation as the fanner views it, but in reality there's little or no co-operation about such matters that are real co-oper-ation. Now, the Federation of Co-op-erative Associations, brought into being at a meeting held in Chris tchurch on July 0 last, after newly five years' investigation, is of sucli importance to. ffle community that it behoves each and all to become acquainted with the result of that meeting: Delegates from the following co-operative societies met is Christchurch on July 6: Auckland Farmers' Union, Whangarei; Farmers' Auctioneering, Hamilton; Hawkc's Bay Farmers' Co-op., Napier; Farmers' Co-op. Organisation Society, Hawera; N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Association, Christchurch; Canterbury Farmers' Co-op. Association, Tim&ru; North Otago Farmera' Co-op. Association, Oamaru; Otago Farmers' Co-op. Association, Dunedin; Southland Farmers' Co-op. Association, Gore. Mr. Pannett, president of the Ohristchurch concern, presided, and each association was well.represented by from three to six delegates. The object was to bring together the fairly large number of farmers' co-operative concerns in New Zealand under tIW title of Farmers' Co-operative Wholesale Federation, Limited. Provisional directors were appointed and an agreement arrived at as to the lines which the first work of the concern should follow. One of the chief •benefits to be derived ia that each unit which at present carries on separate businesses can be linked by the establishment of a wholesale institution through which they can combine in buying goods, fostering markets and improving facilities for reaching the markets. Although it was decided to confine the first work to indenting and general agencies the articles of association are very comprehensive, and no doubt as occasion requires the combination will be able to make itself useful to the farming community. That the whole of New Zealand from the northern to the southern end has recognised the value of combining the separate co-operative units into one concern for the objects mentioned should he gratifying to the producing community. The "fly in the ointment" is that dairy factory companies refuse to realise that further advantages can accrue by amalgamating for production purposes and look upon such a scheme as "the millennium," and so on. The dairy factories have a one-sided combination under the name of the N.D.A.—-I use the term simply because it cannot claim all the companies and many have withdrawn from it or have indicated dissatisfaction with it, and it is practically crippled on account of funds and of no real benefit as at present worked, but which under an amalgamation for production could take its place in the Federation and prove of enormous use to the individual producers in many ways in which combined action is needed. The N.D.A. no doubt has been of benefit to dairy factories, especially in regard to shipping arrangements, and perhaps a little indenting, but is powerless against machinery and other combines that are reaping the cream from the dairy business. I maintain that directors of the different dairy companies should at once take into consideration the subject of amalgamation for production, for, so sure as the sun shines, it is only by such will the man on the land be able to receive what he is entitled to, and no one can say he does under the present system. With the Wholesale Federation's weight in 'buying our manures, for instance, in obtaining shipping concessions, and in obtaining fresh markets for our produce, I think it must be apparent to the most careless that the time has arrived for a serious consideration of the co-opera-tive system as pertaining to dairy factories. The N.D.A. would justify its existence and become a real live dairy farmer's help as the first directorate of an amalgamated concern. Dairy factories have amalgamated for butter-box production, and it pays; they have amalgamated for freezing purposes, and it pays. Will someone let us know why this other amalgamation is hung up? Will anyone deny the advantages to be derived, or that it is not the acme of co-operation?