The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-07-10
HOW COOPERATION
PAYS FARMERS
England Has Agricultural Trading
Societies" That Are Quite
Helpful.

Over in England they have agricul-
tural trading societies." or co-opera-
tive organizations of farmers for the
purpose of buying their supplies and
selling their products. The Agricul-
tural Organization Society in a recent
report gives some interesting informa
ton as to the work of these trading
societies. At the close of 1909 there
were affiliated with this Agricultural
Organization Society 321 agricultural
organizations of various kinds, most
of which do more or less trading, al
though 1874 were societies formed to
help small farmers secure land or to
obtain allotment. The total member
ship of these societies was 1880, and
they did in 1909 business of $780,
900, or about $4,179,600. There were
also at the same date 1903 societies
not affiliated with this A. o. s., as it
calls itself, and these societies had
membership of $4,000. and has done
(as the English put IT. an aggregate
turnover of e1,100,000, of S5,346, 900,
making total business for these CO.
operative societies of about $9,525. 900.
The purpose and methods of these
societies are explained as follows:
Cooperative Agricultural Trading
Societies are formed for the purpose
of buying fertilizers. feeding-stuffs,
and other agricultural requisites for
farmers at wholesale prices. When a
farmer buys fertilizers or feeding
stuffs, he usually has to purchase from
dealer or agent who makes his profit
by selling to the farmer at a higher
price than that at which he himself
buys from the manufacturer. But II
the farmers and small consumers in a
district combine together and form a
Cooperative Trading Society, the so
ciety can obtain the goods required at
wholesale prices.
"The affairs of each society are man.
aged by a committee elected by the
members, and the committee Is re-
quired to send return every year to
the Registrar Of Friendly Societies,
showing balance sheet and other par
ticulars Of the society. This helps to
secure the proper financial conduct of
the business.
"It Is usual to appoint a secretary
from among the members. II the so
ciety is large enough to pay man to
devote the greater part of his time
to it's affairs, he is. Of course, paid a
proper salary; bat in the case Of small
societies the expenses of management
are comparatively light, and the work
Is often undertaken by an honorary
secretary.
"The Trading Society disposes Of
its goods at the lowest retail market
price, and at the end of the year. after
paying interest on capital, is able tc
return what is called a bonus upor
purchases This bonus consists o.
profits given back TO the members II
proportion to their purchases.
Besides being able to secure par
Of the profits Of the middleman o.
agents. purchasers have other advan
tages.
"They can buy small quantities a
the rate paid for truck loads, because
} the society buys truck loads and dis
tributes the contents among the mem
bers.
"The Trading Society is also able :,
have fertilizers, feeding-stuffs. cts
analysed for IFS members. To test I
consignment for all the members on,
sample only need be anaiysed. mi
rs great saving 70 members. ~ !