WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 427, 27 April 1899, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The monthly meeting of the above club waa held at Cambridge on Tuesday evening. There were present : Mes.srs E. Allen (President), H. Gillett, J. Anderson, J. Gane, A. Cubis, T. A. Hicks, W. Vosper, G. E. Clark, VV. Johns (Te Awamutu), Jas. Hal'y, J. R. S. Richardson, J. D. P. Morgan, \V. T. Carr, T. Hartly, S. E. G. Smith, J. Fisher and W. Morgan. New Members.—On the motion of Mr Anderson, Mr George Slater, of the Cambridge West fellmongery, was elected a member of the club. Mr Anderson said Mr Slater had come to reside amongst them, and wished to trade with the farmers of the district.— Mr Slater thanked the members for electing him, and stated that he should be pleased to purchase bones, wool, pelts, hides, etc., from the farmers, and he could only say that if anyone departed from his premises without taking away the money for what he had brought, it would be his own fault.—Messrs J. H. Edwards and J. Wallace were also elected members of the club. Charues on Packagks and Sacks.— A letter was received from the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association, calling attention to resolutions passed by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce : That it is desirable, in the interests ot the produce trade, that no special charge should be made for butter packages, the cost of same being reckoned in the value of the contents ; that produce merchants and auctioneers abolish all separate charges for sacks, etc., with all kinds of produce, except chaff and grass and clover seeds. The matter was discussed at the last meeting of the executive of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association, when a resolution was passed objecting to the proposition of the Chamber of Commerce, and expressing the opinion that it is only fair that sacks and packages containing farmers' produce should in all cases be charged extra. Would you kindly bring the matter under the notice of your Association and favour our committee with their views on the aubjeot at as early a date as possible.—The Secretary said he had called the Executive Committee together, and that body had endorsed the action taken by the Auckland Association, and had also suggested that the similar institutions in the South should be communicated with re the matter.—Mr Gane said the suggestion of the Chamber of Commerce would doubtless simplify matters for the merchants and auctioneers, but it would be altogether against the interests of the farmers. He then moved that the action of the committee be approved and endorsed.—Seconded by Mr Anderson and carried. Co-operation.—Mr Daw then read a paper on Co-operation. He commenced by explaining that co-operation meant working together for a common end. This system renders possible the accomplishment of results unattainable by individual effort. Co-coperation provides that each member shall benefit by the expert management and elaborate organisation which combination renders possible. One obvious benefit is that each member participates in all the profits ; it is really their own business carried on in their interests. In all trades and professions there is a mutual understanding for the protection of the common interest. In matters pertaining to farming this is not the case. He is asked to-day to accept 2s a bushel for wheat (delivered) and 2s for oats, £2 a ton for chaff and £2 a ton tor potatoes, 3d per lb for cheese and 5d for butter. This is so notwithstanding that the consumer has to pay £3 a ton for chaff and £3 for potatoes. This is mainly so because of their bulk, he is unable to buy by the ton. He gets very little cheese under 6d per lb, and he pays as much as Is 2d for butter and 3d per quart for milk. What is wauted is a strong mutual friend in the shape of a Co-operative Association, who would pay the seller more and give the buyer what he requires at a lower price. All know that it is impossible to sell at the above prices and make a living profit. Every year just as the farmer is about to shear down goes the price of wool j as we are about to thresh down goes the price of flour, and when we take our wheat to our only market the miller tells us he can only give us so much a.i flour is so low. He does not tell us that this low price is u/ arrangement between himself and other millers, and only meant to stand till they have bought our wheat. Then up go the prices. Most of the produce is sold by auction which under proper conditions is an admirable system. Wool is sold by auction but with so small an audience that it appears a farce, and so oh with cattle. In the season tons of fruit are sold in the auction marts when not 20 persons are present. There are too many sales which accounts for the small attendance, and unsatisfactory prices. The farmer should no longer allow his fat cattle and sheep to be sold by the antiquated auction system. In this way they do not get any consideration for the wool, hides and other products. The butcher, in estimating values, calculates how much a beast will dress, but we never hear him say that the hide, horns and entrails make it worth so much more. His object to-night was to show what can be done by co-operation. In 1881 the Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association waß formed by seven shareholders, holding 141 shares. In 1882 there were 800 people holding 3511 shares, and in 1898 there were 2855 holders of 22,685 shares. The siles for the year ending 1882 were £27,400, in 1898 these amounted to £152,204. The dividend paid for the year 1883 was 11 per cent., in 1898 they paid a dividend of 8i per cent., and returned as bonus 3 per cent, on goods purchased and 20 per cent, on commission earned. The Wairarapa Association was formed in 1891 with a capital of £74,020, the capital now stauds at £111,889. The dividend declared for 1898 was 6 per cent, bonus2per cent, and £4OO has been written off the properties account. The Associations of Hawera, Timn-u and Wauganui are all unqualified successes. In no part ot New Zealand is the farmers' interest ao disunited as in the province of Auckland. Because co-operation was tried here some years back and was not a success, it is ridiculous to say it would not succeed now ; co-operation is now better understood. It is proposed to form a Co - operative Association with headquarters in Auckland. This must be 60, as it is from there the railways radiate and ships sail. He gave a short outline of the process of business proposed. All produce is to be shown off as far as possible. Fruit will be first offered iu wholesale quantities to the trade ; the lids of the boxes will be opened before the sale, but will be placed iu such positions as to prevent stealing. The growers, who must be shareholders, will be guaranteed certain prices for the leading fruits. The fruit not sold in the wholesale department will be either canned, made inte jam, etc., or disposed of in the retail department, the display of fruit in this department to be one of the sights of Auckland. The association will return all cases free of charge for all fruit not sold wholesale. The shareholders will be entitled to send fruit to any market, but not within 50 miles of Auckland. Daily communication will be established with all the New Zealand and certain of the Australian ports, and produce will be distributed to the most advantageous market. It will be the endeavour of the association to make its headquarters the market for Auckland for oats, wheat, maize, potatoes, chaff and compressed hay. It is not desired to compoto with the butter, cheese and bacon factories, but any shareholder milking thirty cows, or any two neighbours milking that number will be supplied with a separator, churn, butterworker and other neo««iaries. The Asuo-

ciation will contract with them for their butter all the year round ab a fixed price, Bay 9d per lb, paying 8d and applying the other Id to pay cost of separator, etc. There will be a Btore in Auckland, where shareholders will be able to buy flour and all farm necessaries at co-opera-tive prices, The proposad capital is £50,000 in £1 shares. Each shareholder must hold ten shares, and he may hold as many more as he likes. Having heard this scheme you must admit that never befoie have the farmers of Auckland had such a comprehensive scheme laid before them. For the small sum of £lO he can have the produce of his farm so handled, that he would not only receive much higher prices but would also share in the distribution of profits. It now only remains with the farmers to make the association a financial success. -The discussion on the paper is held over until next issue.