RURAL CO-OPERATIVE BAKEHOUSES 



the suppression of the middlemen. Even if this proportion amounted to 

 half, it is reckoned that the farmer, member of a bakehouse, would sell his 

 grain at three francs more per quintal, which is not an inconsiderable amount. 

 The establishment of direct relations in this way between the grain 

 farmers and the consumers of bread would have other advantages 

 yet. It would in fact constitute a serious obstacle to speculation in grain 

 and flour. The wholesale grain merchants who buy the farmer's grain through 

 agents would be prevented from forming reserve stocks enabling them to 

 influence prices. The grain would be consumed on the spot, in the country 

 where it is reaped, and the economic consequence would be that a large stock 

 of native grain would be out of the reach of speculators and intriguing mid- 

 dlemen. 



Appendix. 



Rules of the Co-operative Bakehouse {la Prevoyante) of Gelos, Mazeres- 

 Lezons, JJzos, Rontignon, Narcastet, Assat, Meillon, Aressy. 



Art. I. — The Members of the Farmers' Syndicate of Basses-Pyrenees, 

 of the communes of Gelos, Mazeres- lyczons, Uzos, Rontignon, Narcastet, 

 Assat, Meillon and Aressy form amongst themselves and those who shall 

 adhere hereafter to the present rules, a Co-operative Bakehouse to take 

 the name of Boulangerie Co-operative La Prevoyante (I^a Prevoyante 

 Co-operative Bakehouse). 



Art. 2. — The sole obiect of this co-operative society is to obtain bread 

 for its adherents at a price ; iways corresponding with that of wheat, on the 

 basis of I franc per loaf of 4 kg. when wheat is 17 fr. per 80 kg. The weight 

 of the bread will be guaranteed and the quality the best possible. 



Art. 3. — The Society will be composed of members who shall pay an 

 entrance fee of 20 francs. This may be paid in money or in kind. 



The Board of Management, in order to faciHtate membership for the 

 poor, will admit adherent members on payment of 5 francs, and they 

 will, enjoy the same benefits as the members of the society without, 

 however, being able to take part in the management or direction or 

 attend the general meetings. 



The amount of the entrance fee paid by the adherent will be 

 entered to his personal account, to which will be added his share in the 

 annual profits. 



As soon as the amount of profits placed to his account together with 

 his deposit of 5 frs. reaches the sum of 20 frs., the amount of the contribu- 

 tion of the members, the adherent may take rank among the members. 



Art. 4. — Every half year a summary statement of the situation of 

 the Co-operative Bakehouse shall be drawn up. 



The net profits, after the deduction of the general expenses of every 

 kind, shall be distributed as follows, after the complete repayment of the 



