H2 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



consisted of representatives of the three central soceities, 

 and the latter of representatives of the Agricultural Co- 

 operative Federation, the Eastern Counties Farmers' Co- 

 operative Association, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation 

 Society, the Farmers' Supply Association of Scotland, the 

 North-Eastern Agricultural Co-operative Society and the 

 Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society. Sir Horace Plunkett 

 was appointed chairman and Mr. R. A. Anderson hon. 

 secretary of each Board, with Mr. R. M. Drysdale, Mr. F. C. 

 Smith and Mr. John Portnell joint secretaries on trade. 



Meetings of the Joint Board for Organisation, held in 

 1908, dealt with various important subjects, including co- 

 operative credit and the relation of the State to agricultural 

 organisation. 



It was considered that the matters on which action by 

 the Joint Board for Trade might most successfully be taken 

 were (1) the acquisition of agricultural necessaries of the 

 best qualities at the lowest prices ; (2) the marketing of 

 produce in the most economical manner ; and (3) the 

 interchange of commodities between the different societies 

 themselves. The Board held three meetings in 1908, 

 appointed a sub-committee to report on the conditions in 

 respect to co-operative trade in (a) fertilisers, (b) implements 

 and machinery, (c) feeding stuffs, (d) seeds, and also held an 

 important conference with the Fertiliser Manufacturers' 

 Association. In April, 1909, the question of the manufac- 

 ture and supply of feeding cakes was discussed and referred 

 to the sub-committee. 



At recent meetings of the Joint Boards a number of 

 important questions have been discussed. 



The Plan of Campaign. 



The system on which the business of the A. O. S. was 

 conducted may be briefly indicated as follows : — 



I. Advertisement : 



(a) Holding of meetings at which addresses on agricul- 

 tural co-operation were given by the President 

 and members of the Committee, or by members 

 of the staff. 



