CO-OPERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 7

CO-OPERATION.

The Economistc Francaise has recently referred to tho agricultural syndicates which have been lately formed in Franco. It appears that there are nearly half-a-million occupiers and owners of land who have banded themselves together through the medium of syndicates for their personal advantage. The first syndicate was formed upon a small scale by one of the French professors of agriculture, who obtained the assistance of the Coisul-gcneral of his department and a small subsidy by means of which the organisation was established. This did so we'll that Ihe idea was taken up and many other syndicates were formed. It appears they have enabled farmers and others who are members to obtain manures which are invariably analysed before sale, and which are delivered to them at a cost which is 15 per cent, less than the price they would have to pay if they were not members of those bodies. It appears that when the farmer requires manure he has only to state in his application the crop that he wishes to grow and the nature of the soil for which it is intended. He will then receive through the medium of the expert advisers of the syndicate a properly prepared manure at a very moderate price. The arrangement also includes seeds, and in some cases these seeds are tested by germinating before they are sent out. Further than this some of the syndicates already supply machinery and implements to their members at considerably reduced prices and sometimes guarantee the payment from the member up to a certain limit. In one case the syndicate at Nantes goes beyond the purchase of goods ; it provides experts to advise the farmer, and arbitrators to act in disputes which may arise between the owuer and the occupier of the land. Co-operation upon the French basis, says Professor Long, would give greater strength and secure fuller justice. The same syndicate has organised an insurance fund for the benefit of its members, as well as a register enabling them to obtain labourers as they require them. In Paris there is a permanent centre of existing syndicates, which has been joined by nearly 200 societies representing 150,000 agriculturists ; and according to the Field, they have already arranged so that the stock-selling

farmers can dispose of their beasts and sheep direct to the butchers at the great Paris market at La Villette.

Co-operation is likely to become a prominent question among British agriculturists. During 1887 numerous syndicates of farmers were formed with the view to establish a system of direct dealing with consumers. One of the features of the year was the very general movement among those who send milk to the large towns to demand a higher price than that given by the dealers, and meetings were held ail over the West Midland, Southern, and Western districts of England resulting in a widespread organisation of milk producers to protect their interests.