1204 Xew York State Agricultural Society 



tioii, would be of iutense iutorest. These reports bear out this 

 expeetatiou, the Committee ou Marketiug briugiug definite phms 

 for peruuuient, continuous work in the great market of New York 

 City, and an estimate of funds required for the work. 



During the past year there has been completed a most valuable 

 investigation regarding the prices of agricultural products and 

 methods, and facilities for marketing same. Members of this 

 society, among them the chairman oi our C^ommittee on Coopera- 

 tion, havi' had much to do with this investigation and are familiar 

 with its findings. At our meeting last year, a resolution was 

 adopted instructing the president of this society to call a delegate 

 meeting of interested parties throughout the state, with the 

 avowed purpose of working out a plan of action to bring the 

 country producer and city consumer into closer relation through 

 cooperative methods of buying and selling. In compliance with 

 this resolution, the call was issued and a conference held in the 

 rooms of the Board of Trade and Transportation, New York City, 

 last April, As a result of the conference, a special state com- 

 mittee of 100 on cooperation was named with John J. Dillon as 

 chairman, and this committee has been at work throughout the 

 year. On December fifth, a most important conference of this 

 committee was called to consider certain definite, cooperative 

 propositions, and we shall hear from the chairman of the com- 

 mittee a report that marks the greatest forward step yet taken on. 

 these matters in this country. 



The (V)mmittee on Banking and Taxation is a new committee, 

 whose usefulness will be demonstrated in its study and recom- 

 mendation regarding the matters which form the leading topic of 

 this meeting. 



The Committee on Legislation has most important work before 

 it. Proposed legislation to open up the way for the organization 

 of cooperative buying and selling associations; legislation regu- 

 lating methods of marketing food products ; improvements and 

 amendments to the agricultural law. must receiA'o their careful 

 scrutiny before thoy are given the support of this organization. 



OUR TOPIC AXI) PROGRAM 



As most of us know, the European systems of land mortgage, 

 banks and rural cooperative credit societies, which have proved 



