CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 May 1928, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

ACTIVITIES OF OVERSEAS FEDERATION.

At the Central Hotel, yesterday, Mi A. E. Gough, manager of tlie Overseas farmers’ Co-operative federation Ltd., London, and Mr. E. Bushell, of Weilington, were* “the guests ut luncheon, of the New Zealand farmers’ Co-oper-ative Organisation Society. Mr. Alex. Hunter (chairman of directors of the society) presided over a large gathering of delegates representing dairying interests in a wide area, comprising Messrs W. A. Hewitt, S C. Tonks G. A. Duncan, A. Lees, E K. Cameron,-A. K. fyson, C. D. Dickie, W. A. Guy, It. D. Douglass, It. free, It. G Cook, D. fitzgerald, E. Long, f. J.‘ Bilton, E. W. Court A. M. Hannah, H. J. Crocker, W. G. Belton E. T. Burke W. V. Harkness, G. W. Stubbs, A Corkill, J. E. Palmer, C H. Courtenay, f. Parsons, C. G. Trotter, E. E. Clarke, D. G. Ogilvie and A. E. Kawson. . Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. It. Honeyfield, P. Bond, B. C. Lysaght, A. Alexander, A. E Symes, It. Bremer, H. A. foreman, ,]' S. Connett, H. E. Johnston, W. E. Carter, W. A. Duckworth, f. Sarten, Wm. Jones and E. Mar fell. After the loyal toast had been honoured, the chairman said lie' liau pleasure in introducing and proposing the health of Mr. Gough, who had been delegated to meet responsible officials on the producing side of the federation’s activities, which could well he regarded as a compliment. In reply, the guest of the day said eight years had sped since his last visit to New Zealand, and in the interum many changes for the good had taken place, particularly in regard to the volume of dairy and other primary products, and he was agreeably surprised with the prosperous appearance of the whole country. In presenting an outline of the operations of the Overseas Fanners Co-operative federation which he represented, Mr. Gough said there were really three shareholders in the organisation—the Co-operative Association of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, whose individual \interests wore* closely watched unci sateguarded by competent, capable business men in London, and much good to primary interest would accrue it anihat ed companies more fully realised that the federation’s flooring in London was their own property, still much had been done during the past eight yeais, lor which he did not want his heaieis to run away with the idea that lie was j responsible —he could not claim credit for being such a wonder. The loyalty behind the producers, as represented in co-operative associations, was iespousible. Pursuit Of the London policy as laid down by the federation had resulted in the establishment of a widespread goodwill, which he wished his hearers to regard in the light of a New Zealand asset. , The „ principle of the federation s London house was a purely co-operat-ive one, and the surplus balances, over and above expenses were paid out to individual associations according to the volume of business transacted on then behalf. Co-operation or unity of action was much talked of iu New Zealand, but in the speaker’s experience he knew of no country in which individualism, in a business sense, was more practical so far as he coilld sec, co-operation m New Zealand applied more to the producing side of primary products than to the marketing or distribution thereof. He had been associated with cooperative matters for the past 30 or 3o years and was convinced that co-opera-tion had reached the stage when a scheme might be evolved that would satisfy all the people all the time. Under suitable propaganda, consumption could be materially increased, and for the sake of illustration the speaker stated that co-operative organisation resulting in an increased consumption of one pound of butter per head within the scope of the federation’s operations would mean an increased demand of from 20,000 to 25,000 tons of butter per year. \t a later stage, in reply to a remark by Mr. W. G. Belton,. Mr. Gough explained that the activities of the federation he represented applied not only to the distribution of butter, but also embraced the handling of cheese, meat, fruit, honey, eggs and other primary products. Mr. Gough’s elucidating address was greeted with applause. • . Other toasts honoured were: Kindred Co-operative Associations” (Mr. \V G. Belton—Mr. D. G. Ogilvie); “The Chairmen of Co-operative Dairy Factories” (Mr. C. D. Dickie—Mr. E. T Burke): “The Chairman’ (Mr. I. Bushell—Mr. A. Hunter); “Mine Host*” and “The Press.”