548 Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



CANNING CLUBS. 



By H. E. King, Secretary, South African National Union. 



The world war called into being many new kinds of industrial 

 activity, and the constantly increasing cost of living has revived 

 forms of domestic handicraft which had fallen into disuse. The 

 preservation of fruit in Great Britain had been to a large extent left 

 to big packing establishments, which were able to turn out superior 

 grades of tinned goods at very moderate prices. During the war, 

 however, efforts were made to stimulate the manufacture of jam and 

 the preservation of fruit in the home. In America, co-operative 

 canning has been carried on with success for some time, and lately 

 there has arisen a desire in South Africa to establish canning clubs 

 on somewhat similar lines. It is well that in this country of widely 

 separated markets there should be an organized movement to induce 

 women to conserve, by means of home canning and preserving, fruit 

 and vegetable products that would otherwise go to Waste. While the 

 production of such forms of food for use in the home is essential, it 

 is desirable that they be prepared in such a manner and be of such 

 a quality as will fit the surplus for sale as a commercial commodity. 

 It may therefore be valuable to show how these clubs can be worked. 

 They do not aim at production on a large scale, but rather at catering 

 for those who have a preference for home-made products. 



Canning clubs are groups of persons who buy co-operatively a 

 canning outfit, and use it in common. In America the work is done 

 by women, assisted by Government with expert advice, and, if 

 wanted, expert supervision. Although many women in South Africa 

 are adepts at preserving food in small quantities for the home, their 

 methods are unsuited to the economical production of a commercial 

 commodity. For that reason it is essential that they should combine 

 so as to reduce the cost of prodtiction to the lowest possible figure 

 and to ensure a uniform quality of article. 



In every centre where fruit and vegetables are plentiful, and 

 where there is a sufficient number of people living in close proximity, 

 the women concerned should form themselves into a* co-operative 

 society, with a small capital, payable in calls of 5s., as may be 

 required. A large room should be secured and fitted with the neces- 

 sary equipment, a canner, peeling machines, soldering apparatus, 

 bottles and tins, together with strong tables and chairs. The cost 

 of all these need not exceed £25 to £30. A supply of sugar sufficient 

 for the products it is expected to treat during the year should be 

 purchased in bulk at wholesale rates, together with a stock of any 

 other articles, such as cans, bottles, labels, etc., likely to be required 

 during the season. This is one of the purposes for which capital is 

 needed. 



The wcmhers of the society must secure all their supplies at 

 the loicest prices, and therefore they must he in a position to buy 

 for cash. 



