The San Francisco call., 1910-08-23
COOPERATION AIDS
FARMER IN FRANCE
Agricultural Syndicate Enables
Producers to Sell and Buy
Advantageously

Consular Assistant Dean B. Mason
Of Paris furnishes the following in
formation concerning the organization
of agricultural associations in France,
supplementary to his report on their
purchasing operations, which appeared
in Daily Consular and Trade Reports
of July g. 1910:
During the last % years an extern
sive movement toward the organization
and coordination of agricultural in
terests has taken place in France.
Agricultural societies have existed in
France since the middle of the eight
eenth century, but their rapid extern
sion and development have taken place
since the passage of a law in 1884,
permitting the creation of industrial
or agricultural syndicates by persons
of the same or similar professions
without special authorization of the
government. Certain formalities as to
registration and publicity being COM
piled with, considerable liberty is al
lowed the professional syndicates, and
while there are various other forms of
agricultural organizations, the syndi
cate is the most general and most i'm
portant.
The principal aim of the agricultural
syndicate is to enable the small farmer
TO purchase or dispose of his supplies
as advantageously as his more impor-
tant competitors and to encourage
number of social movements toward
the betterment of the rural population,
such as the establishment of insurance
H. -. sa.Nr
mission, never exceeding 8 per cent
they sell, purchase or exchange the
products and supplies of their mem
bers
EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
The agricultural syndicate is not
taxed like a business enterprise and is
authorized by law TO act only as an
agent of its members. However, few
syndicates maintain a considerable
stock of supplies. Such a practice some
claim TO be contrary to the spirit of
the law of 1884 and to give the syndi-
catist an undue advantage over other
sellers. 1t is claimed by the repre-
sentatives Of the syndicates that they
have materially helped their members
to sell or buy advantageously and have
protected them from imposition. In
so far as the purchase of fertilizers
and seeds is concerned, it would ap-p
fed.
Two important unions. the Union
Centrale des Agriculteurs de France
and the Syndicat Central des Agricul-
teurs de France, have become impor-
tant factors in the development and
usefulness of the numerous associa-
tions or syndicates included within
their membership.
Some 1900 agricultural syndicates
the Union Centrale des SyndicatS des.
Agriculteurs de France. The union does
not restrain the independence or initial
i've of the societies included within it's
membership. but furnishes advice or
assistance at the request of its mem
bers. and in matters of Importance
where collective effort or influence is
necessary. the union has proved an
efficient representative of agricultural
interests.
REVIEW FURNISHES ADVICE
The syndicate publishes a semimonth-
lv review. furnishes expert opinions TO
its members .on agricultural matters,
maintains an employment bureau, and
has a competent buying and selling de-
partment. 1t has exercised salutary
influence in preventing combinations
Of manufacturers or dealers from rails
ing unnecessarily the prices on articles
purchased by agriculturists.
The buying department Of this or
ganization, owing TO the Importance of
its transactions and good business con-
nections has been successful in pre-
venting impositions upon its members
by INSCRIPTIONS dealers in fertilizers
and seeds. Information on all sub
jects in which agriculturists are likely
TO be interested. whether legal, bust
ness. or technical, can be obtained from
the syndicate by It's members, either
gratuitously or at a moderate expense
The cost of membership is s1.50 a year.
and commission is charged, which in
no case exceeds 3 per cent, on sales or
purchases made by the syndicate.
There are various other agricultural
unions of less Importance, as, for in
stance the SyndicS te National Agricole,
with $500 members; the Federation
Rationale des Syndicats Horticoles de
France. the Syndicat National de De-
fense de la Vitieulture Francaise, etc.
GOVERNMENT LENDS MONEY
During the last 30 years superior
methods of cultivation and tile thrift
and industry of the French rural popu-
lation have led to a considerable in
crease in agricultural production. in
spite of the fact that there has been no
material increase in population. The
French government has contributed
largely 10 this prosperous condition
through services rendered by the de-
partment of agriculture, by education,
by experiment, etc, and by the loan OF
considerable sums at low rate of in
terest to agriculturists. The yearly
loan Of the state, through the local
banks, has risen in the last-eight years
from S11S,116 to s7,913,0O0. Up to the
present some $66,1O6, 900 has been lent
to 125,000 cultivators.
The increased protection afforded ag-
ricultural products by the tariff of 1892
has materially stimulated production,
particularly the raising of wheat and
cattle. 1t had been the policy of the
French government to protect and as
sist agricultural interests prior to the
formation Of the agricultural syndi-
Gates, but it is likely that these syn
dicates, by organizing and uniting agri-
cultural interests. have been material
factor in obtaining helpful and effective
legislation and government support