Dec. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 905 



A social gathering was held on 3rd November at Mr. H. Belling's farm, 

 where the experiment plots for the district are located. Over a hundred 

 people were present, and accompanied Mr. G. C. Sparks, Inspector of Agri- 

 culture, round the plots, after which, having paid sixpence for a piece of 

 paper for the purpose, each one proceeded to estimate the yields per acre 

 of the different varieties. The best estimate will receive a prize of £2, and 

 the second best £1. 



The ladies then entertained those present at afternoon tea. The function 

 was so much enjoyed that a similar event is forecasted for next year. 



The Co-operative Movement at Milbeulong. 



In response to the invitation of the Department, the secretary, Mr. J. M. 

 Gollasch, has furnished a statement concerning the co-operative movement 

 among members of this branch. 



The movement commenced in March of this year with the following 

 objects : — 



1. To obtain farmers' requirements at the lowest possible cost. 



2. To bulk purchases in order to obtain the lowest railway freights. 



3. To eliminate middlemen and agents as far as possible. 



4. To bring farmers into touch with the markets ioc farm produce and farm 



requirements. 



The first move was a special meeting at which the venture was discussed, a 

 committee of seven was appointed to coutrol the business, and the secretary 

 was instructed to write to various wholesale houses for quotations for farm 

 reqiiirements. A date was then fixed for the first meetiii..;. at which orders 

 would be taken. 



At the " order meeting " the quotations received were read by the secretary, 

 the members present making a note of their requirements. Each then signed 

 his list and handed it to the secretary, who then made up the total orders into 

 one large order and despatched it to the firm quoting most reasonably. 



To enable cash to be paid for the goods upon receii)t of invoice, all members 

 signed a guarantee for an advance of £1,000 from the bank. This proved very 

 successful, as during the first six months of operations the interest on the 

 amounts borrowed amounted to only 14s. Id., while the discounts received in 

 consequence of paying cash within the three, seven, or thirty days, as the case 

 might be, amounted to £12 10s. 4d. 



To the cash price and freight on the goods a handling charge of 2i per cent, 

 was added, of which 1^ per cent, was paid to a man who was apiwinted to take 

 delivery of the goods on arrival and to distribute them to members as ordered. 

 The remaining 1 per cent, was retained to cover banking and secretarial 

 expenses. After six months of operations it has been found that the 21 per 

 cent, is sufficient to cover all expenses. 



All members have to pay cash for goods on delivery ; this is necessary to safe- 

 guard the venture from bad debts, &c. 



One rule provides that only hona-ftde farmers can be appointed on the com- 

 mittee, in order that agents may be prevented from getting in. 



During the first six months the following lines were handled successfully :-— 

 Oils, binder twine, seaming twine, cornsacks, wire, benzine, kerosene, groceries. 

 and other smaller farm requirements. On an average about 20 per cent, was 

 saved over local prices — in some cases as much as 60 per cent. Some farmers 

 have bought up to £150 worth of goods in the six mouths, and the saving io 

 them has been substantial. „ 



The turnover for the first six mouths, during which three " order meetings 

 were held, was £1.587 lOs. 6d. An order meeting, which was held on 22nd 

 October for harvest supplies, resulted in an order for approximately £80(> worth 

 of goods being handed to the secretary, about £200 of which was for grwenes. 



The movement has met with such marked success that people have <-ome 

 15 to 20 miles to place an order for goods. The members of the branch have 

 now decided to commence a farmers" co-operative store in the new year, and 

 promises of 3,000 shares at £1 each have been received, which means that 

 co-operation is a long-felt want of the primary producer. 



Two other branches of the Bureau are inquiring from Milbrulong the nature 

 of the co-operative movement, with a view to following suit. 



