CO-OPERATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16946, 8 November 1926, Page 5

CO-OPERATION.

fr MOVEMENT IN AMERICA. ENDORSED BY MR COOLIDGE The co-operative marketing problem for farm crops is receiving renewed attention from President Goolidgc (says Hie Christian Scicnt Monitor). Turning from a conference on Government financial policies with Brigadier-General Lord director of the Budget, Mr Goolidgc received Arthur B. Rule-, of New York City, general manager of the Federated Fruit and Vegetable Growers, Inc., one of the largest national co-operative organisations, who later said—- “ The farmer has no belter friend in the country than the President.” The position of Mr Coolidgc towards the farm co-operative problem, however, was not revealed, although Mr Rule expressed the conviction that the President was favourable to a programme for supplying the farmers with adequate credit machinery. Received at Executive Offices. The visit of Mr Rule, who was received at I,he executive offices, was arranged at the suggestion of- the Departments of Agriculture and of Commerce, with whom he confers frequently on farm business matters. He reported on crop conditions as he has found them throughout the country, and reiterated suggestions lie lias made to officials of the Department of Agriculture on technical matters involved in the sotting up within the department of a separate division of co-opera live marketing as provided for in legislation passed at the recent session of Congress. The suggestion was made by Mr Rule, without, however, Mr Goolidgc indicating his views, that Iho Rural Credits Act be broadened in respect of the powers it gives for setting up national agricultural co-operatives handling Hie marketing of perishable products. Equal Opportunity Sought. Producers of fruits and vegetables, Mr Rule said, should be given greater opportunity for developing co-operative marketing organisations with Government assistance, broadly along the lines open to the live stock man, wiio has available Government credits on cattle even three years in advance of the time it will be ready for the market. The subject of co-operative marketing was of especial importance at this time in his field, Mr Rule continued, as the fruit industry is confronted with Ihc biggest crops in the history of Hie country, especially peaches, apples, and grapes. It is the misfortune of both Hie consumer and grower, lie said, that there is a lack of sufficient organisation for marketing Hie crops, “probably loss than 20 per cent, of Hie total Held being organised at all.”