52 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



FEDERATIONS 



I. The Irish Co-operative Agency Society, Limited 



The societies mentioned are only a step towards a co-operative 

 organisation which is yet to embrace all Ireland. The next step 

 is the federation of these societies. Some of the societies have 

 already formed federations. The first attempt was made in 1893, 

 before the I.A.O.S. came into existence at all, when sixteen of 

 the Dairy Societies started a federation called the Irish Co-opera- 

 tive Agency Society. These Dairy Societies took shares in the 

 Agency Society according to the amount of their trade. The 

 capital raised amounted to £137, 15s. The societies pledged 

 themselves to sell their butter through the Agency, a commission 

 of 2| per cent, being charged. The Agency was unfortunate. It 

 was badly managed ; bad debts were contracted ; costly litigation 

 was entered into. The result was that its capital was lost, and 

 a severe blow was thus given to the federation of societies in 

 Ireland. A number gf the sixteen Dairy Societies cleared out. 

 A few remained faithful, and the Agency got over the reverses 

 of its early years. It does not, however, even yet get the support 

 to which it is entitled, and a compromise was suggested by the 

 I.A.O.S. It suggested that Dairy' Societies turning out good butter 

 should guarantee from 7 to 10 cwts. weekly to the Agency. It 

 further suggested — though it did not insist upon this — that the 

 societies entering into such contracts should become members of 

 the federation by taking twenty £1 shares, 5s. payable on allot- 

 ment. Matters, however, will not surely end in this sort of 

 half-hearted co-operation. The societies, it is hoped, will yet 

 federate in reality either in one or more than one federation. 

 If in one federation it will be able to make terms with railway 

 companies, and it will be able to secure top market prices, for 

 it will be the most powerful, and probably the best, butter merchant 

 in the whole country. 



2. The Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society 



This Society is a federation of the Agricultural Societies of 

 Ireland. Each Society can become a member by taking one 5s. 

 share for every member. Is. being paid on allotment. The balance 



