252 DEEP FURROWS 



izations was a possibility upon which the farmers were 

 keeping an eye. A certain amount of friendly com- 

 petition was unavoidable. For some time, therefore, the 

 necessity of closer union of their various organizations 

 had been a serious topic among the leaders of the Grain 

 Growers in all three provinces. It was the logical 

 preparation for future achievements. 



At its regular meetings in 1915 the Canadian Council 

 of Agriculture comprising officials representing the 

 whole Grain Growers' Movement had agreed that 

 definite action would be desirable. A meeting of repre- 

 sentatives from the respective Associations and com- 

 panies interested accordingly was held in the offices of 

 the Saskatchewan Co-Operative Elevator Company at 

 Eegina. The plan discussed was the formation of one 

 large business concern, similar in a general way to the 

 Wholesale Co-Operative Societies in the Old Country. 



The idea was that this wholesale company should 

 market and export grain, control terminal elevators 

 and any manufacturing that might be done later on as 

 well as importing supplies when necessary. This would 

 leave each provincial company with its own organiza- 

 tion to look after collection and distribution of supplies 

 and to operate along the lines already existing in 

 Saskatchewan and Alberta. The provincial companies 

 would be in absolute control of the central or wholesale 

 company. 



A difference of opinion arose in regard to the method 

 of selling grain. The representatives from the United 

 Farmers of Alberta, the Alberta Farmers' Co-Operative 

 Elevator Company, the Manitoba Grain Growers' Asso- 

 ciation and the Grain Growers' Grain Company were 

 unanimous in agreeing that it would be unwise to 

 divide the marketing strength of the farmers into three 



