THE U.K. CO-OPERATIVE CO. 83 



out of these negotiations the office was moved to 

 the Medland Building on King Street, where it 

 still continues. The first rental paid there was 

 only $25.00 per month. 



The negotiations with T. J. Medland & Com- 

 pany contemplated the taking over of the Med- 

 land business on King Street, but finally fell 

 through on September 18th, so that nothing 

 further need here be said about it. It is worthy 

 of note, however, that on the same date R. W. E. 

 Burnaby, who subsequently figured so largely in 

 the Company's affairs, applied for and was 

 allotted one share of stock. It is noteworthy, 

 too, that Mr. T. A. Crerar, who had been elected 

 an honorary director, was in attendance at a 

 number of directors' meetings for several years, 

 a fact that indicates the close relationship be- 

 tween the farmers' movement in Western Canada 

 and that in Ontario. From time to time, also, 

 most of the Western leaders have appeared and 

 spoken at the annual gatherings in the East. 



In June, 1917, a communication which marked ^ 

 the beginning of an important controversy was 

 received from the Brant Farmers' Co-operative 

 Society, in which, after reciting a resolution 

 passed by the Board of Directors of the latter 

 Society, it was urged "that co-operative societies 

 exist for the express purpose, in the interests of 

 the people, of eliminating competition, and the 



