Co-operative Agricultural Societies. 77 



be in possession of its own warehouse at the coast, which would 

 undoubtedly prove a great advantage. In order to ensure concerted 

 action by all wool-growers in this matter, it had been decided to float 

 a large wool company, the prospectus of which would shortly be 

 issued. The Agency itself was going to subscribe for 10,000 shares 

 in the company, and support had been promised by persons outside 

 the Agency. There was not the slightest intention to establish a 

 "ring" of wool-growers, but to ensure that the farmer secured the 

 world's market price for his product. 



(b) Importation of Agricultural Implements. — Owing to the 

 abnormal conditions caused by the war, the Central Agency had not 

 yet been successful in establishing the necessary agencies for the 

 direct importation of the requirements of farmers ; it has, neverthe- 

 less, been able to procure some articles direct from the manufac- 

 turers at very reasonable prices. It had been decided to send_ a 

 deputation from the Central Agency to Europe in connection with 

 this matter, and this deputation would depart on its errand as soon 

 as conditions overseas became a little more settled than at present. 

 Item No. 12. — TJiat the tvords "during the last preceding three 

 years" rii Section 24 (2) of Act No. 17 of 1908 and in 

 Section 25 (2) of Act No. 1 of 1910, be deleted. 

 The proposer of the motion pointed out that the present law 

 provided that in the event of a society liquidating, the reserve fund 

 was to be distributed among the members in proportion to the turn- 

 over of each member during the last preceding three years. The 

 effect of this provision was that the member who had loyally sup- 

 ported his organization for many years would, upon liquidation 

 thereof, receive exactly the same share of the reserve fund as the 

 member who had only belonged to the society for the three years 

 immediately preceding such dissolution. Moreover, such a member's 

 turnover might be very small during those particular three years 

 through adverse circumstances, and a large turnover during the 

 previous period of the society's existence would not count when 

 the reserve was being distributed. This matter had been brought up 

 at the 1918 and 1919 Congresses, and it had been decided to have the 

 law altered in the manner indicated, but it had not yet been found 

 possible to introduce the necessary amending legislation. This should 

 be done at the earliest possible date. The motion was unanimously 

 passed. 



Item No. 13 (a) and (b). — That this Congress expresses its dis- 

 approval of the fixing of prices of the produce delivered by 

 the farmer, and requests the Go'vernment not to stop the 

 export of maize, 

 (b) Disapproval of Government interference in connection with 



the grain trade. 

 The Acting Under-Secretary for Agriculture, in reply to a ques- 

 tion, informed the Congress that no permits were being granted at 

 the present time for the export of maize, and that it was difficult to 

 say whether any portion of the coming season's crop would be 

 exported. The consensus of opinion, as expressed by the delegates, 

 was strongly against the stopping of the export of maize and any 

 interference on the part of the Government with the grain trade. 

 One delegate contended that Government interference in regard to 

 wool had resulted in heavy losses to farmers, while the restrictions, 

 placed on the export of grain had occasioned the farmers a loss of 



