The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-04-02
Cooperative

would be to a people predominantly
Catholic in a country where religious
antagonisms prevade every sphere of
social life. In politics-so far as he
was a politician-he was a Unionist,
and those whom he proposed to in1u-
ence we're Nationalists by vast ma
jority, keenly suspicious of any policy
which threatened to divert the mind
of the nation from the political aims
on which it was passionately bent"
1t is not surprising, therefore, that it
was only after more than a year of
strenuous efforts and after more than
fifty public meetings had been held,
than in 1889 a body of Limerick farm
ers finally consented to establish a CO.
operative creamery. It was again over
year before a second one followed
suit. By the end of 1891, however,
seventeen creameries were at work
and at the end of 1893 thirty had been
organized. Thereafter the cooperative
societies were organized more rapidly
Now cooperation and good business
method prevail throughout Ireland.
There are $50 cooperative So
cieties upon the island. With an ag-
gregate paid up share capital of about
a million dollars their annual turnover
Is twelve million dollars.
In 1884 the cooperative movement
has become so great that there was
need of a 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 a central federation of
all existing societies, and become a
supervisor and auditor of their bust
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 emf
nent common sense. Associated in the
movement also is Mr.. George w. Rus
sell, brilliant journalist and editor of
the Irish Homestead, a man who is
practical as well as a poet and painter.
The vice-president of the organization
is Rev. Father Thomas A. Finlay, pro-
fesscr of economics in the National
University at Dublin, Catholic priest
who has a most rare and kindly
knowledge of human nature, combined
with a splendid head for the details OF
the business of the cooperative organi-
cation.
Seldom has so well balanced quar-
tet 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 IL.
A. 0. S. It's organizers meet with the
promoters of a news society and give
them the benefit of the experiences Of
the older societies. They furnish
set of rules, advise as to equipment,
install a system of bookkeeping and /
good business methods. The society |
has a staff Of skilled, experienced men
who are organizers, editors and inspec-
tors. To it cooperative societies make
certain definite reports To it they
constantly go for advice and council
and over them it maintains most
complete power of audit. The func-
ton of the society is to unity and CO.
ordinate, to inspect, to audit, to advise.
1t has been it's achievement to pilot
all 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 bust
ness methods, upon the most effective
system of accounting, upon fair and
dealings with all con-
cerned, and upon the maintenance of
the highest quality in all products.
American cooperation must have a
similar central society if it is to be
effective.
During the parliamentary recess OF
1885, through the efforts of this same
statesman, Sir Horace Plunkett there
was brought together a committee of
men of various parties
1nQ CT66QS, WHO ldIeI pIGoSlllcu q PC
ition to the government praying for
he institution of a state department
which would fulfil the functions Of a
Of agriculture for Ireland.
These proposals we're embodies in a
aw enacted in 1899 and Immediately
hereafter the department Of agricul-
ure, with Sir Horace Plunkett at its
lead, began it's career of education.
The present head Of 'the department ;
# agriculture and technical instruc-
ion," as it is now termed, is the Hon.
'homas w Russell.
Agricultural Wholesale Society.
AS was but natural, the cooperative [
organizations, after they had estab-
shed themselves and began furnish !
ng product Of high quality, found {
hat the individual managers Of the Y
eparate societies had not facilities
Dr. obtaining knowledge of the mar /
ct. To understand fully the conditions $
l all markets to which Irish products i
.;1bf cOnob1v no QyDp0tp6 IN have r