Ormondville Farmers’ Club.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2499, 30 August 1890, Page 2

Ormondville Farmers’ Club.

The ordinary monthly meeting for August was held last evening. Present —Messrs Henson (chair), Packer, Chicken, T. Webb, Baines, E. Webb, Leach, Groom, Davis, Bai, and Shugar (secretary). Minutes of previous meeting confirmed as read.

Eight haw members were enrolled. The Chairman introduced the chief business of the evening. He said that a co-operative store was needed in the district, and unionß seemed to be the order

of the day, and called upon Mr Fatullo and the other gentlemen present to speak on the matter.

Mr Patullo said what was wanted there at present could be done without the aid of unions. At present they were paying too much for the necessaries of life of both man and beast ; goods conld be reoeived there aa well as at Danevirke, where, though the distance to rail there was greater than was the case at Ormondville, they could be bought much cheaper. They could appoint a committee of three to supply the members with goods ; they could communicate with the merchants at Napier and Wellington, (be mentioned some firms who could be asked to quote prices). A list could be got giving prices for one month, and have a fresh list sent in each month as prices varied. Each member Hhould have a copy of the price slipe from the committee, and send his order through the committee with the cash for payment ; the commicteo to receive orders at the monthly meeting of the Club. They would require a place in which to receive the goods for distribution, but the cost neod not be

much, for they could rent a room permanently, that was if it was required. A small fund could be raised to enable the committee to paj’ freight. Mr Baines said ho thought it a very good thing indeed. The members would bo in the same position as a wholesale buyer, and they know well enough that a wholesale buyer could always get goods cheaper from a merchant than they could do by buying retail. The co-operative system had been introduced at Ormondville, and they had tried then to start a co-operative store, but they had failed. Ho hoped that they would be more successful now, and all pull together. Owing to tho high prices charged for goods, the cost of living in the bush was far too heavy, and if people could sell cheap at Napier, they could sell nearly as cheap at Ormondville.

Mr Packer said he had no cause to complain of the local storekeepers ; they treated him very well. He always paid cash for what he bought, and found it a great saving. When he used to hook stores he had to pay very high prices, but buying for cash was a different thing. Of course, if anyone could purchase wholesale things could be bought much cheaper, and he believed in buying cheap ; if he could save sixpence on an article by going to another store he would do so. He had every sympathy with the movement, but he thought people would net always be prepared to send money when sending for goods. Did Mr Pattullo mean that they would only have to pay money for freight when ordering goods ?

Mr Pattullo said the freight would have to be paid, and charged pro rata among the buyers; what he did not quite know was whether they would have to pay the freight in advance, or not. Mr Paoker said his opinion was they would have to pay freight, and divide the cost among the buyers, so that each man would pay a fair proportion. Mr Pattullo said the firßt payment would have to be made by the Committee.

Mr Paoker said the best thing to be done was to send orders to the merchant aud ask him to pay freight and inclnde it in tho charge, bo that they could send the whole amount, freight included, when they received the goods.

The Rev. A. S. Webb said ho must view the matter in another light, and from another standpoint. They had to consider that in the country districts they must have stores, for it would be a dreadful thing to be without them, aud the inhabitants must patronise storekeepers. He knew that he could get things cheaper, but he was always in the habit of dealing’ with storekeepers. In dealing with the question before the meetiug they must recollect that other men must make a living—in short, it was desirable to “ live and let live.” He could see one way in which the idea otuld be carried out regarding pigs and fowl’s food. Ho was a keeper of pigs, and he was sorry to say he kept them at a loss but thought they as a Farmers’ Club could buy pigs and fowls’ food cheaper than by getting small quantities at stores, and Mr Browne had often scolded him for buying this food at his store, as it could be bought much cheaper in large quantities elsewhere. Some gentleman had said that if he could save sixpence by dealing elsewhere tie would do so, but he (speaker) would not do so without regurd to other men. He was with the members in some things, but not in all things. When they got their goods they could not always pay cash, and at such times they were glad to fall back on the storekeepers ; and he would like some of the storekeepers to let it be seen that to those paying cash and buying large quantities they could sell cheaper. He was in tho habit of going to tho storekeepers for things on credit, and they who were similarly placed should consider this Some years ago, while he was in England, ho went to a storekeeper and asked him if ho would let him have goods at wholesale or rather co-operative prices if he bought to the value of £5 and paid cash ; the man refused to do this, and he (speaker) then went to the co-operative store for his goods.

Mr Castles said it was quite evident that they could get things cheaper by going direct to Napier, and showed that he had bought a number of things there so cheaply that he had saved the cost of his Gain fare, but said that he had dealt with Mr Groom for cash, and had then got things even cheaper than he conld buy them at Napier. Mr Baines held that monthly payments were as good as cash. Rev. A. S. Webb asked if Mr Groom could BelJ obeaper for cash, and if large quantities were bought at one time. Mr Groom said he could do so, at present he only got enough profit on the 8 ™ ont ! ODed t 0 P a y him for handling. 1 he Chairman pointed out prices he had paid for oats and showed how he bad been overcharged by buying it at Qrmondville. lie also quoted prices at which Mr Leach had bought oats, etc., at Napier. flev. A. S. Webb asked if the purchases hftd been effectod in the ordinary manner.

Mr Leach said no, he had bought them at auction.

After a long diecussion the Chairman Ba fCS®*t©d that a committee be formed and meet again io 14 days' time to report! Mr Pattullo aaid it would be better to wait until the atrikes were ended, which he expected would be in about 10 days no merchant could quote a price list per month at present as there was no knowios NV "* t prices might be in a week's time. r inaily Mr Pattullo moved that % committee of three be appointed to writ® for prioe lists and report at next monthly , f? ee t ,n ß» a °d this was carried, Messri Pattullo, Baines, and Castles being an. pointed a committee.

The Chairman asked the secretary i| he had written to Mr Gilberd to asoertain the Cost of sinking a test well 350 feet deep i Tho secretary aaid ha had not done so, nor had he written to the Rail, wav Commissioners asking for a crossing to the reserve, as he had been away for a time, and had been very busy since hi, return. Mr Pattullo drew attention t c the danger of importing sloata and weasles, which would kill lambs as had been proved over and over, and they did fabulous mischief. Ho told of cats bein. liberated 200 a day, but they did not seem to do any good, and said that the club should protest against the importation ol stoats and weasles, Mr Groom moved that tho secretary write and thank the members of the Rabbit Board who had Opposed their importation, and protested against it being done; seconded by Mt I attullo, and carried. The secretary van also directed to write to the Woodville Farmers’ Club and thank them for the very able papot given to them by Mr Hamilton. Mr E. Wobb moved that tho Secretary write to Messrs Booth, McDonald and Co., aakiDg prioe of a small roller flout mill and corn crusher, and a 10ft windm‘l* ». Becon fl°fl by Mr Packer aud curried. This concluded the business.