FARMERS' CO-OP.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1916, Page 3

FARMERS' CO-OP.

INGLEWOOD BRANCH. (By Tahi Hereni). That the spirit of co-operation has a strong hold amongst the farmers of 'taranaki is abundantly proved by the number of eo-operative dairy factory comranies throughout the Province, and their uniform success has undoubtedly fostered the growth of that spirit and given confidence to the men on the land to venture into co-operative combinations in other branches. One instance of this is the Fanners' Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd., which was started in .South Taranaki some few years ago. This Society has found many supporters in that part of Taranaki of which Inglewood is the centre, and, after carefully considering the relative merits of various sites, it has now established a branch there.

The Society's premises are on the Junction road which forms, probably, the most important entrance to Inglewood, and is the direct line of communication between the Hinterland of Taranaki and the port of New Plymouth. Near the middle of the Borough a freehold has been secured on which a building for the storage of all kinds of farmers' requisites and an office for the conduct of the company's 'business are situated.

The store, which is now nearing completion, is planned to be 40ft x 4 ! oft, all in ferro-conerete, with the back wall on the northern boundaries of the property, and so arranged that when increase of business demands, increase of space can readily be added to. The office is on the street front. An auction mart is at present being built as the 'Society does not propose holding general auction mart sales but to contine its attention to catering for the needs of its shareholders in the way of implements, seeds, manures, insurances, etc.

On the same road on the eastern boundary of the Borough the freehold of 25 acres haR been bought and here facing on to the road exceedingly substantial stock sale yards have been put up. Receiving and drafting yards open from the road on both east and west sides of the cattle pens, of which latter there arc GO, and all posts are of ferroconcrete and the rails of jarrah. A selling shed, built of ferro-conerete and like the yards, concrete paved, occupies the middle of the frontage with a door direct into the road. It is so placed that the driving of the lots for sale and taking them out can be done with the least possible waste of time. This building is chiefly for the sale of dairy stock, and though it was thought to be quite big enough when designed, the sales have so much exceeded expectations that its capacity has been found barely sufficient. The auctioneer's rostrum is on the north, or road side, of the interior, with space for his clerk u well as a good many clients beside him. In front of this between two substantial barriers (ferro-conerete ns before) is the arena into which the cattle are brought from the east and west sides. On the south side of this is a tier of benches for the audience from which a I good view of both auctioneer and cattle lis obtained. A door in the south side, behind the back tier, gives level access to the footways over the yards where the other cattle are sold. Entrance from the road to the sheep yards, which are at the back of the cattle yards, is on the west side and in no way interferes with the cattle yards. It is believed that plenty of room has been provided for as many sheep as are likely to eomc forward in a- district which is so largely a dairying one. According to the size, of the lots about 3000 could be handled.

Eight pens for Diss with loading race fronting on the road have been built on the east side of the cattle yards, and though 'Wednesday (the company's fortnightly sale day) seems to those used to lnglewood's' old methods a curious day for selling pigs, it is found very convenient by suppliers to the Inglewood Bacon Factory—also co-operative—-whose receiving day is Wednesday for having got rid of fat pigs. If they want to fill their places they have a chance to do without driving home empty, and perhaps making another spec'<l trip for a -Saturday's pig sale. The maiiager's house and garden occupy the land on the bank of the Kurapete, the boundary between this property and the Borough. The rest of the land has been divided into nine paddocks for holding stockthat arrive the day 'before sale day or need to be held until the day following the sale. There is, too, a convenient we'l-sheltered paddock for clients' horses. Altogether, the yards have been carefully planned and substantially built, speaking Volumes for the faith of the shareholders in the stability of their eo-operative venture, and adding a most appropriate roadside feature for a principal entrance to a country town.