Sevekty-Tiukd Annual, Report 1163 



New York on December 5, to consider how the new parcel post 

 system may 1)0 developed to distrihuU' I'arui products, and crrect- 

 ing trade between producers and consumers; more paii icularly to 

 effect means for the organization of cooperative societies among 

 producers and consumers. The Housewives' League (a large asso- 

 ciation of New York City consumers) promises to help in the 

 development of the parcel post trade by furnishing the names 

 and guaranteeing the credit of members, providing the producers' 

 organization will cooperate by guaranteeing the grade, quality and 

 measure of the goods. It was the sense of the members of that 

 committee that the organization of cooperative shippers in local 

 country units must go hand in hand with the organization of a 

 central selling agency, with headquarters in the city, representing 

 the country associations and controlled l)y them. In furtherance 

 of this measure the chairman was directed to prepare a charter 

 for the central organization and to assist in the development of a 

 uniform system for the oro-anizatiun of the local units. These local 

 units for shipping in cooperation are held to be important because 

 it is only through association that we can hope to have shipments 

 made in uniform packages, in proper grades, and in full weights 

 and measures. The o-uarantee of these standards will be neces- 

 sary in order that the shipper may profit by the proposed com- 

 mission law and the proposed food commission bill and in whatever 

 may develop in the enlargement of the parcel post system. These 

 shipping units could also be utilized to develop the local trade of 

 villages and cities throughout the state, and to avoid the wasteful 

 and extravagant practice of shipping first to the City of New York 

 and then doubling the rate and charges back to the local market. 

 The individual producer is unable to supply these local nuirkets 

 because of the expense of suuill deliveries, and the bical caterer 

 or hotel man is unable to patronize the producer because of his 

 absolute need of a steady and uniform supply, but where all pro- 

 ducers in a neighborhood are shipping through a common ware- 

 house, this trade could be supplied and developed to the profit of 

 the producer and saving of the consumer in a steady supply of 

 food material fresh from the farm. 



The attorneys have had some delay in familiarizing themselves 

 with the laws already existing and with the needs of cooperative 



