THE MOVEMENT IN IRELAND 81 



ground for dairies had been almost completely covered by 

 those of the one type or the other. 1 



Apart from the difficulties presented by what may be 

 called the " human factor/' the founders of the co-operative 

 dairies had much trouble, more especially at first, in obtaining 

 efficient managers. Then it was necessary to ensure the 

 provision of adequate machinery, notably so in the case 

 of pasteurising plant ; much guidance was needed by some 

 of the societies in regard to the keeping of the creamery 

 accounts ; strict cleanliness in handling the milk had to be 

 vigorously insisted upon, and then when the creameries 

 had been established, were working satisfactorily, and were 

 producing large quantities of butter of the right quality, 

 there came the further question of marketing on such lines 

 as would ensure the best returns. With a view to over- 

 coming this final difficulty, there was formed in 1892 an 

 Irish Co-operative Agency Society, Ltd., to assist the 

 co-operative creameries in marketing their butter. 



The main feature in connection with the Irish co-operative 

 agricultural societies for the supply of requirements is the 

 extent to which they carry on their trade through the 

 federated body known as the Irish Agricultural Wholesale 

 Society, Ltd. One of the first achievements of this organisa- 

 tion was the breaking up of a " ring " of artificial manure 

 manufacturers, with the result that prices were reduced by 

 about 20 per cent. The " ring " was afterwards re-formed, 

 and the Wholesale Society had a renewal of the same diffi- 

 culties for a time ; but these were eventually overcome. 

 Trouble was, however, still experienced in regard to the 

 implement manufacturers. In the sale of seeds of guaranteed 

 purity at the lowest prices the Agricultural Wholesale 

 Society has rendered good service to the Irish farmers. The 

 greater part of co-operative trade in agricultural require- 

 ments in Ireland is, in fact, done through the Society, which 

 has depots in Dublin, Belfast, Sligo, Foynes, Thurles, 



1 The position in Ireland in this respect compares strongly with that in 

 England, where the principle of co-operative dairies has undergone but 

 comparatively little development because of the greater advantage 

 derived by the farmer from sending his milk to the towns. 



A.O. G 



