74 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



then an amendment of the Act would be necessary, but if it was 

 merely desired to defer payment of a deceased member's share until 

 the end of the financial year, this could be done by an alteration of 

 the regulations. The Congress thereupon resolved: — 



" That the estate of a deceased member shall not have the right 

 to claim payment of his share until after the expiration of one month 

 after the close of the financial year." 



Item, No. 4 (a) and (b). — Necessity of appointinig additional 

 insjyectors for the Co-operative Division of the Agricvltural 

 Departineni, to ensure Tnore frequent and more searching 

 inspections of the hooks of co-operative societies. 



(b) That arrangements be rnade for the appointm-ent of more 

 inspectors for the Co-operative Division, and that a larger 

 sum be granted for organization purposes. 



These motions were adopted by the Congress without discussion. 



Item No. 4 (c). — That the Minister of Agriculture be requested as 

 early as possible to submit to Parliament an amendjnent of 

 the Co-operative Act, whereby societies ivhich so desire u'ill 

 be enabled to appoint the Inspector of the Registrar of Co- 

 operative Societies as their Auditor. 

 The delegates referred to the vital importance of efficient book- 

 keeping and to the difficulty experienced by some societies in getting 

 suitable auditors with a thorough understanding of the business 

 methods of co-operative societies. Even if such men could be secured, 

 the costs involved frequently proved a serious drawback to newly 

 established societies. It was thought that the inspectors of the 

 Co-operative Division, who were thoroughly versed in the business 

 conducted by -the societies, would be best suited to act as auditors, 

 and the Congress resolved: — 



"That the Minister of Agriculture be requested to introduce to 

 Parliament at the earliest possible date an amendment of the Co-opera- 

 tive Act enabling societies, who so desire, to appoint the inspectors 

 of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies as their auditors, and that 

 co-operative societies are willing to pay half of the fees." 



IteTU No. 5 (a) .—-Desirability of making provision in future for 

 the sale of all grain at gross iceights and not at net weights, 

 as the prevailing custom provides for, whereby no payment 

 is made for the container in which the grain, wool, or other 

 pi'oduce of the farmer is delivered. 



(h) That it is desirable in future that a bag of m-aize, wheat, etc., 

 shall be understood- to iveigh 200 lb. gross, and of oats and 

 lighter grain 150 lb. gross. 



(c) That the laio be so amended tliat the present weight of a bag 



of mealies he decreased to 200 lb. 



(d) That the desirability be discussed of taking steps to introduce 



the principle that \chen grain is sold the bag shall not be 

 included but shall be returned by the buyer, o-r the value 

 thereof shall be refunded. 



(e) That farrners should obtain some payment (if not in full) for 



the bags in which ther grain and wool are delivered, a^ m 

 the case of most other kinds of goods. 



