70 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



societies, and the estimated maize surplus of 600,000 bags of the 

 current season's crop. 



From a brief report submitted by the Registrar of Co-operative 

 Societies, it appeared that 8 new societies had been registered since 

 the holding of the last Congress — 5 in the Orange Free State and 

 3 in the Transvaal. Three societies were dissolved, without occasioning 

 any financial loss to the members, and 2 were not yet actively engaged 

 in the transaction of business. The total number of active societies 

 at date was 37, as compared with 18 four years previous, and the 

 total membership 10,122. The turnover of the societies during 1918 



and 1919 was as follows: — , 



1918. 1919. 



Maize sold ... 784,615 bags. 739,595 bags. 



Tobacco sold 1,534,6211b. 2,795,6411b. 



Dairy products — £4,384 



Other produce £142,537 £153,317 



Farming implements and 

 machinery supplied to 



members.'. £172,356 £152,268 



Cattle supplied to members ... £16,473 £3,950 



At the present rate of expansion the turnover is likely to be 

 considerably more next year. 



The total reserve fund of the societies (exclusive of the reserve 

 forbad debts) amoimted to £94,844, as compared with £81,300 in the 

 previous year. 



The first item on the agenda was : — 



1. (a) That resolution No. 6, passed hy the last Co-operative 

 Congress, be again discussed, viz. : — 



That the Railway Adviinistration he held responsible for 

 the number of bags of grain delivered to it for transport 

 to the viills as tvell as to the ports. 



Several delegates complained that the attitude of tlie Railway 

 Administration in regard to this matter was most unreasonable, and 

 cited instances of unfair treatment on the part of the Administration. 

 The societies were constantly suffering heavy losses as the result of 

 maize being lost in transit, but the Railway Administration refused 

 to accept any responsibility in regard to such losses unless an extra 

 charge of Id. per bag was paid. In consideration of the fact that 

 the societies built stores and undertook the loading of their maize 

 themselves — whereby the Administration was being spared a good 

 deal of trouble and expense — the societies contended that the 

 Administration should provide a checker and accept responsibility 

 for losses without any extra charge being paid. Even in cases where 

 the extra penny per bag had been paid, the Administration had 

 refused to entertain the claims of some societies for compensation. 

 The attitude of the Administration generally, while not actually 

 hostile, was most unsympathetic towards an organization which had 

 always proved a considerable source of income to the railways by 

 reason of the large volume of business provided by the societies. 



In reply, the representative of the Railway Administration (Mr. 

 Oettle) said that, far from placing obstacles in their way, the 

 Administration was only too eager to assist the societies in every 

 possible manner. If the societies could not obtain redress of their 

 grievances from the local station staff, let them communicate with 



