8.—14

12

with dairy and other companies in districts where neither associations nor guarantor companies have been operating, so that farmers may know to what quarter inquiries for general information regarding the system should be addressed. A statement is contained in another portion of this report with regard to the steps taken to give publicity to the first public issue of debentures of the Board. It has not yet been found necessary to issue the special booklet already prepared dealing with the system from the point of view of an investor in the Board's debentures. 21. Co-operation ivith Farmers'' Union. —From the inception of the scheme the Board has worked in co-operation with the New Zealand Farmers' Union in the measures taken to keep farmers generally informed of the provisions of the scheme. The formation of the majority of the associations operating throughout the Dominion has been due to interest aroused at meetings convened by the local branches of the Farmers' Union, and addressed by representatives of the Board. The central executive of the Union has also rendered considerable assistance to the Board in various ways, and the active interest displayed by all sections of the Farmers' Union organization has had a substantial influence upon the development of the system. Upon its part the Board has maintained close touch with the central executive of the Union and has kept it fully advised of the more important developments in regard to its operations by means of statements furnished for inclusion in publications issued periodically by the Union to its local branches, and any representations submitted through the Union organization in regard to the administration of the scheme have received sympathetic consideration. The Board acknowledges its indebtedness to the Union for its helpful attitude in the above regards throughout the period for which the Board has been operating, and for the further assistance which it rendered in connection with the Board's public issue of debentures, in transmitting detailed information as to the debentures and the terms of the issue to all branches of the Union, so that the question of taking up debentures might receive consideration wherever funds were available for investment. 22. Distribution of Annual Report. —As in previous years, a large number of copies of the annual report on the Board's operations for the year ended 30th June, 1929, were printed, and were distributed to the best advantage, so that the comprehensive survey of the Board's operations contained in the report might be brought before the notice of all persons having a special interest in them. Copies of the report were sent to the central organization and the branches of the Farmers' Union, to members of the district boards, co-operative rural intermediate credit associations, guarantor and discounting companies, and other dairy companies and concerns closely interested in farming matters. Copies were also furnished to the daily newspapers, farming journals, and other publications, and extensive publicity was given by them to the contents of the report. A number of applications for copies of the report have been received from institutions administering systems of rural finance in other countries, indicating that the working of the Dominion system is attracting interest in other countries which have felt the need of organizing rural finance for the benefit of the producers. It is proposed to make a similar distribution of copies of the present report. 23. Articles published in Journals and Newspapers. —Valuable publicity has been given to the working of the scheme by newspapers throughout the Dominion and by journals devoted to farming matters, and, as a result, the developments in regard to the system and the more important policy decisions of the Board have been constantly before the notice of the farming community and the general public. The Board has willingly met requests by newspapers and journals for the contribution of articles explaining the intermediate credit scheme generally, or dealing with any particular phase of it which is of special interest to the readers of the paper or journal. Upon the part of the farming journals particularly there have been requests for articles of this nature, and in some cases arrangements have been made for the contribution of periodical statements setting out the progress made and the general developments in connection with the operations.