194 CO-OPERATIVE FRUIT-GRADING 



The future of this very promising society deserves 

 to be closely watched, inasmuch as the course adopted 

 is so obviously a step in the right direction, if the 

 fruit-growers of the country are to be placed in a better 

 position to compete with those colonial and foreign 

 experts in the art of marketing who are now threatening 

 to supplant them practically altogether. 



profit thereon was ^163, allowing of a bonus equal to is. 6d. per 

 ton on their purchases being given to members, in addition to the 

 advantages they had already obtained in buying at the outset at 

 lower prices. Of the depot built for the society by the railway 

 company the annual report says that it ' more than proved its 

 utility and convenience, stock being always in hand to meet the 

 requirements of members. 3 The building of similar depots at other 

 railway-stations in the district is now under consideration. Mean- 

 while the members of the society are so satisfied that they are 

 appointing a paid secretary, and taking larger and better offices 

 for their headquarters in the town. 



