THE FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE ALLIANCE [LMTD.]

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3823, 30 May 1891, Page 2

THE FARMERS CO-OPERA-TIVE ALLIANCE [LMTD.]

Although the meeting held at Greytown on Monday last was not well* attended, owing no doubt to the day fixed upon being a public holiday, and the hour chosen also being most inconvenient, some interesting information was given to those present upon the proposed association of farmers in the Alliance which shall be for their joint and individual benefit. Mr Coleman Phillips, at whose instance the meeting was called, occupied the chair, and introduced the subject which was to engage their attention. He had determined to support the Alliance, he said, because in it be saw a certain means of increasing the prosperity of all small farmers. Our dairying district was an exceptionally fine one, and our butter, when well made, was as good as that of Normandy or Denmark. Both our butter and our cheese were, however, carelessly placed in the market. The butter kegs were allowed to be about the wharves in the sun, and the cheese cases hurst while being handled at the ship's side. He had seen these occurrences himself. What happened when the produce ultimately reached England. Heaven only knew ! To got only 4sd to 6d per lb for butter was not good enough, and it would.be the duty of the Alliance to remedy this state of things. At the late dairying was increasing, the. butter and cheese exported from Wellington would in the future overtake and equal the value of the wool and grain which was shipped. In the United States and in Canada this already had been the caße. The Farmer's Alliance would have ample scope in Wellington without interfering with the merchants, for it was not to oppose them, but it would really favour their interests by making the small farmer more prosperous. The merchants complained about the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency when it was started, but that Company had done excellent work, and so would their Alliance. The necessity of co-operation was evident. Would it not be better to have one joint bill of lading at 10s than to have one hundred little consignments with one hundred bills of lading, costing J650 ? Was it not to their advantage to have one management to supervise the export and sale of the produce of one hundred small farms, rather than have the expenses of a score or so of agencies to attain the same objeot. Low freight rates, too, oould be got for the extensive shipments the Association would make. The possibility of bad management would be guarded against by asking the assistance of the ablest business men to guide the project. What he desired was the Co-operative Alliance should carefully haudle their produce at a reduced expense, and to get them a better nett return. They would also be able to import and buy goods at cheap rates through it, not necessarily suoh things as would compete with storekeepers, bat purely agricultural lines such as machinery and implements, wool packs, wire, staples, and so forth. The Association would not rest content with tbe payment of a profit of seven per cent on capital, any surplus above that being put by as a reserve fund or being divided among shareholders in various rebates. Shareholders should not expect to see dividends right away, as for the first few years theit policy no doubt would be a cautious one, restricting itself to actual requirements. The Canterbury Association had been wonderfully successful. Besides a dividend of seven per cent there bad been a 8£ per cent, bonus on wages and salaries, 25 per., cent, bonus upon commission and 15 per cent bonus uponinsurancepremiums. And it was now proposed by the Canterbury Directory to start, a Farmers Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company. As regards freight rates, Mr John Gmgg.of Canterbury, had instanced the fact that goods were imported to Australia for 17s a toil, whilst those imported to New Zealand were charged 60s. No wonder the New Zealand farmer was unable to compete under conditions like this! Freights must come down by at leaaS one half. The necessity of the proposed Alliance was obvious on various grognds. Mr Alexander Jardine, provisional Secretary to the new Association, then addressed the meeting, men-, tioning that as Mr Phillips had dealt exhaustively with the matter under discussion, he would make his remarks somewhat brief. The large and increasing supply of dairy produce extending so rapidly under the development of the Colony would go almost to ruin, or at any rate would suffer under great disadvantage, unless increased facilities for its

consumption were provided. Wellington, by reason of its adequate rail and shipping conveniences, was admirably adapted fortho Associa tion's purpose.and for communication with the world's markets. They would have depots and agencies in the principal agricultural towns, and farmers could for ward their commodities through these branches to Wellington, where, under the careful supervision of the staff of the Alliance, they would be received, stored and shipped to the readiest and best markets to be found. An expert would accompany each ship carrying their consignments to see that they had every care en route, and previous to this a cablegram of advice would have been sent to their London agent, who would either have sold to arrive, or would hold over, as the prices current an, the time might determine. They would be by no means restricted to London as their outlet, but sales would be effected in the other prinoipal towns of the United Kingdom. The goods would thus be brought right to the door of the consumer, and the producer would by this policy secure prices which could not be got by any other means. In short, they would be placed in touch with the best markets of the world. The Alliance would be able to obtain the most favorable freight rates both by rail and sea. It would also supply farm requirements, such as machinery and implements and the class of goods , which the merchant is not so well, adapted to provide for them, on particularly advantageous terms ;| butter kegs and cheese cases, which would be provided at cost price, were included in this proposal. Monetary help to farmers in the shape of advances would be a speoial feature, and they would be granted at the very lowest rates, and so save the fearful outlay for interest which, in some cases, was new being incurred. It was certainly for the benefit of every farmer that he should join the Association, and no doubt they would recognise this now that the proposals and prospects were definitely before them. It was not estimated that more than 30s to 40s per share would be called up, as later on people would lodge fixed deposits with them, on which they would be able to pay better interest than the Banks gave. The Ohristohurch Association had something like £20,000 deposited with it in this way at present, he might mention.' That Society had also paid 84 per cent, on their paid up capital of 82,000, which had been divided amongst the shareholders in various profits and bonuses, including one of the staff. Mr Jardine conoluded his remarks with a reference to che stringent measures the Wellington Association would probably introduce to ensure cleanliness and uniformity in quality and size as regards cheese and butter. Mr W. 0. Nation and the fiev Mr Hewson each spoke in favour of the Alliance and agreed as to its imperative necessity.

Mr E. W. Tate gave, at the Chairman's request, particulars of his personal knowledge of the pronounced success of the South Canterbury Farmers' Association at Timaru.

The meeting then closed, after votes of thanks had been passed to the Chairman and to Mr Jardine, the latter of whom had come speoially from Wellington to be present. Similar meetings are to be held at Carterton on Monday, and at Master, ton on Tuesday, whioh all interested are invited to attend. Other gatherings , and the dates thereof may be seen by referring to an advertisement elsewhere.