134 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



Finally, on the subject of " Co-operation," the Commis- 

 sioners said : — 



Although one great principle runs through all co-operative 

 societies, the operations of that principle vary with the particular 

 objects. There is much information to be gathered from Den- 

 mark, as well as from other European countries, which will be 

 found profitable for guidance in the construction of a union, 

 whether for the purchase of farmers' requisites or for collecting 

 and marketing the products of farm, field and dairy. The 

 tendency to greater co-operation is well set, even large farmers 

 confessing its utility, and the tendency must strengthen with 

 time. Of all origins of a co-operative society, the most natural 

 and the best is the local origin — the unpretentious coming 

 together of the few who are persuaded of the suitability of united 

 action to the local conditions. But as an easily accessible source 

 of information, and as an agency for helping the desires of 

 beginners to take shape, an Agricultural Organisation Society 

 would, it appears to the Commission, have a useful place in 

 Scotland. 



On January 18th, 1905, a meeting convened by the 

 Scottish Chamber of Agriculture was held in Edinburgh to 

 consider what action should be taken. The meeting was 

 attended by, among others, Mr. Yerburgh, President, and 

 Mr. Harris, Secretary of the A. O. S. Mr. Yerburgh delivered 

 an address on agricultural co-operation, and an influential 

 committee was appointed to decide upon the best means 

 of promoting the movement in Scotland. The committee 

 met in April and, in turn, referred the question to a small 

 sub-committee. Invited to attend a meeting of this sub- 

 committee, Mr. Harris did so, and presented a memorandum 

 strongly urging that Scotland should have an independent 

 propagandist society of her own. 



As the result of all these deliberations it was decided to 

 form a Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society. An 

 appeal for a guarantee fund of £1,000 a year for three years 

 met with a liberal response ; the Scottish Agricultural 

 Organisation Society was inaugurated at a meeting held in 

 Edinburgh on October 25th, 1905, and registered on Novem- 

 ber 16th ; active propagandist work was begun early in 

 1906 ; the services of the then chief organiser of the A. O. S. 



