CO-OPERATION IN WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7341, 30 May 1885, Page 7

CO-OPERATION IN WAIKATO.

•On Monday last Mr. W. A. Graham, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the North New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, delivered b> lecture on co-operation at Te Awamutu. After some remarkn on the general question, Mr. Graham said their society was one year old to-day, and it ahould be satisfactory to tell them that in that year, starting with a capital of little over £3000, it had turned it over seven times. It had now been decided to extend its operations, and the meat market was considered as the direction in which the farmers could be most benefited. They proposed erecting slaughtering yards in Waikato, sending the carcases to Auckland and selling them to local butchers. The meat in Auckland would be retailed in qhree or fonr distributing shops, in the most populated parts of that town. To do this they had called up fresh capital, and must rely much on the energy and hearty co-operation of members. With regard to the principles of their society ha pointed out that there were two systems of working co-operative societies, the one called the Civil Service system where prices to consumers were cat down to the lowest possible figure, and the profit was expended in a dividend ; the other the Kochdale system, known as " Fair Trade,'' , where, without going into conflict with the storekeeper or others, fair prices were charged, and a small dividend was supplemented witb a bonne out c! the profits pro rata for the trade done with the society by each member. He wished to see their association carried on on the Kochdale principle. Tho lecturer in showing the market to be opened to New Zealand farmers by their Co-operative-Association federacy with the societies at home, referred to the Irish butter trade which had grown up 50 to 70 per cent, of late years; but the Irish farmer did not participate in the benefit, which was absorbed by the middleman until they worked their sales through the co operativesocieties. (Cheers.) — Mr. Gane (managing director) then addressed the meeting. They had done £2i5,000 in business during the year. The business of the association had been conducted carefully and tentatively. Perhaps it had not realised the expectations of every one, but they had developed surely, if slowly. They had benefited the settler to the extent of 15 per cent, in the sale to him of seeds, manures, (tec, which should be looked upon as a dividend. Now, they propoeed to further benefit him, by opening up a market for his beef. They could sell cheap, and yet give the farmer his present prices. He thought the farmers in Waikato should go largely into the new issue of shares and continue to be the controlling element in the association. The outlay of calls would soon be recouped by the increased price obtained for their fat meat. Mr. Kirk went into some startling figures on sales of meat, bread, and other produce, showing that the middleman in New Zealand eat the oyster and gave the producer the shells to the tune of some millions sterling.—A vote of thanks to Mr. Graham and to the Chairman closed the proceedings at a late hour.—Before leaving, Mr. Jones expressed a hope that at an early date Mr. Graham would come to Tβ Awamutu and give them hie views on the sugar-beet movement as he had done now on co-operation.—Mr. Graham said he would be proud to do so. He hoped from the Co-operative Association would emanate sugar-beet and woollen cloth factories in Waikato. He had worked at co-operation for years till he established it here. He would not let it go if he worked another five years to establish a sugar-beet company.