The Harrison times., 1914-03-14
SAVING RURAL IRELAND

In 1894 the cooperative movement
has become so great that there was
need Of central society to carry on
the work which had heretofore been
done by volunteer propagandists.
The |. A. o, s.
There was needed an organization
which should help rural communities
organize their marketing and business
processes, be q central federation OF
all existing societies, and become
supervisor and auditor of their busi-
ness methods. Such a society Is the
Irish Agricultural society. At its
head has been and is Sir Horace
Plunkett, who has been the John the
Baptist Of the gospel Of cooperation In
Ireland, He is ably assisted by the
secretary, Mr.. r, A, Anderson, a man
Of rare executive ability and Of emi.
nent common sense. Associated In the
movement also is Mr. George w, Rus
sell, brilliant journalist and editor OF
the Irish Homestead, man who Is
practical as we'll as poet and painter
Tho vice-president Of the organization
Is Rev. Father Thomas A, Finlay, pro
fessor OF economics in the National
University at Dublin, q Catholic priest
who has a most rare and kindly
knowledge Of human nature, combined
with splendid head for the details Of
the business Of the cooperative organi'
zaton.
Seldom has 80 we'll balanced n quar-
, tot Of men been associated together in
any economic movement, They are
in very fact a power for the business
regeneration Of rural Ireland, Practic'
ally all Of the cooperative societies In
Ireland have been organized by the l..
A. o. 8. It's organizers meet with the
promoters Of news society and give
them the benefit Of the experiences OF
the older societies, They furnish a
set OF rules, advise as TO equipment,
install system Of bookkeeping and
good business methods, The society
has STAFF Of skilled, experienced men
who are organizers, editors and inspec.
tors TO II cooperative societies make
certain definite reports, TO II they
constantly 90 for advice and council
and over them II maintains most
complete power OF audit, The func'
ton Of the society Is to unity and CO.
ordinate, to inspect, TO audit, to advise,
II has been lts achievement to pilot
oil cooperative organizations through
the struggles and difficulties inherent
in the initiation Of the movement to ul'
innate success, Always and every
where the society insists on good busl'
] ness methods upon tho most effective
system Of accounting, upon fair and
broad.minded dealings with all con
eerned, and upon the maintenance OF
the highest quality In all products
American cooperation must have q
similar central society II II IL to be
effective,
During the parliamentary recess OF
1896 through the efforts Of this BNmo
statesman, Sir Horace Plunkett there
was brought together committee of
Representative men Of various parties
and croods, who lOtor presented u pc
tItlon to the government praying for
tho institution Of state department
which would fulfil the functions of
ministry OF agriculture for ireland
These proposals were embodies in a
law enacted In 1899 and Immediately
thereafter the department Of pgrlcul
ture, with Sir Horace plunkett Nt lta
head, began tg career OF education
The present head Of "the department
Of agriculture and technical ihHtrue'
ton" aB II In now termed, 10 the Hon
Thomas w, Russell
Agricultural Wholesale Society
Az was but natural, the cooperative
organizations, after they had ostab
lshed themselves and began furnish
Ing product Of high quality found
that tho individual managers OF the
separate societies had not facilities
for obtaining u knowledge Of the mar
ket 70 understand fully the conditions
In all markets 10 which Irish products
might reasonably DO expected to have
access was too large task for each
Rcnttorod organization 10 undertake
for Itself Consequently the Irish Az
Fieultufal Wholesale society," limited
began business, At first It confined
itself to the marketing Of Irish prod
ucts Later, when local cooperative
societies found trouble In getting
goods Of high quality at reasonable
prices the organization took up the
jobbing business aB side issue Now
it maintains two branches oneaseyehth
Of its business Ia performed 40 job
ber, aix.aeyenths Of Ia business In mar
keting lrah goods About ohe'thlrd OF
tho Irish products handled 10 across
| .l. A.. tru .iauu and HlAllan1.