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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 609, 5 November 1913, Page 3

UNKNOWN

In April last a meeting 01 delegates from fourten of the principal co-opera-tive companies or associations owned and controlled by farmers or other primary producers in the Auckland province was held in the buildings of the Farmers' Union, Auckland. At that meeting it waa decided to form an association to be called "The Associated Farmers' Co-operative Society," and a committee appointed to draw up rules end programme of busiress to be submitted to ne;:t meeting. A general meeting of the sociey was held on September 30th, when the report of the committee gwas considered. The report contained the following clauses: A1 1 : business owned by and controlled by farm era or other primary producers are eligible for membership of the association. This association ia not formed for the purpose of trading and profit-making, but for the purpose of promoting unity amongßt the various farming associations. The society shall be maintained by an annual subscription contributed by the affiliated societies. The management of this association shall be vested in a president, vicepresident, and committee of six, who shall be elected at the first general meeting and afterwards at a general meeting of the society to be held ii ' the month of September in each year. : 'Other general meetings shall be held from time to time aa the president and committee may deem fit. This organisation exists for the purpose of: Advocating the principles of co-operation among agriculturists; watching legislation, industrial movements, and taking such action in connection therewith as may best promote the interests of the members and the agricultural community generally; to as far as practicable eliminate overlapping and conflict betweer farmers' co operative societies both in connection with manu facturing and marketing; to endeavour to secure the purity of feeding sttfffs, seeds and manures; to collect information with regard to best markets and distribute same amongst affiliated members; to reduce the cost of transport by bulking consignments and by arranging terms and conditions with transport companies and railways; generally, to do all such things as may best conduce to the reduction of charges on farm produce and secure for such products, and the producers thereof the best prices possible with a minimum of expense. Major Lusk was elected president, Mr Pacey vice-president, Captain Colbeck secretary and treasurer, and a committee was appointed consisting of Messrs Tonar, Stringer, Barugh, Shepherd, I. Gray, and McGill. A resolution was carried, protesting against the unsatisfactory conditions under which freights are alloted for frozen cargo shipped to Vancouver and 'Frisco, against the charge of Jd per lb for carrying butter up and down the New Zealand coast for tranship ment to the Canadian and Californian steamer?, and expressing the opinion that the charge of Id per lb freight on butter is excessive, and should be reduced. Very strone e ;ception was taken to the way refrigerator space ia allocated and hedged ro'md with restrictions on locally subsidised boats, excluding New Zealand produce to the advantage of Australian. It was decided to commnicate with the authorities on the matter. A motion protesting against preferential tariff on the railways was also carried. A letter from Canterbury indicated that a similar movement in bringing about a combination of co-operative, concerns was in progress, and it was suggested that a conference should be held at an early date.