734 



Pig and Potato Clubs. 



[Nov., 



stituted, was set on foot at the instigation of Lord Bledisloe, 

 K.B.E., for the primary object of encouraging the production 

 of pigs and potatoes at a time when the national outlook for 

 food, particularly meat and fats, was very critical. Lord 

 Bledisloe contributed £500 towards a capital fund, similar 

 amounts were provided by Lt.-Col. Sir H. Webb and Messrs. 

 K. Thomas & Co., and with smaller contributions made up a 

 total of over ^62,500, the interest on which is used for working 

 expenses. Lord Bledisloe can justly claim to be the founder 

 of the scheme and Mr. Eobert Gray, who is greatly interested 

 in the welfare of rural workers, has been chairman of the 

 county committee since its inception. It was agreed at the 

 outset that the objects of the scheme could be best achieved 

 by enlisting the co-operation and help of existing pig clubs, and 

 by forming others for the following purposes: — (1) To en- 

 courage and assist as many people as possible of the cottager 

 class to keep pigs. (2) To utilise all spare and waste produce 

 for pig feeding and co-operate in the purchase of feeding stuffs. 

 (3) The insurance of pig keepers against loss by payment of 

 a small premium. (4) The co-operative purchase of Scotch 

 seed potatoes for gardens and allotments. 



The decision of the committee was followed by action, and 

 after a few weeks' campaign of public meetings in villages, 

 upwards of a hundred local clubs were formed and affiliated to 

 the central committee. Most of these clubs required working 

 capital to enable them to purchase feeding stuffs, and while 

 in some cases this was provided out of the capital fund at a 

 low rate of interest , in others the money was advanced by local 

 well-wishers. 



Club Rules. — A set of model rules for the use of affiliated 

 clubs was drawn up by the county committee, which is com- 

 posed mostly of representatives of local clubs, and though the 

 latter are under no obligation to adopt the model rules in their 

 entirety most of them have done so. Outstanding clauses in 

 the rules are, first, the objects of the club, namely (a) to afford 

 means by which members may, upon strictly mutual principles, 

 insure against loss of their pigs through disease, accident or 

 other cause, (b) to secure for members' pigs the best condi- 

 tions for their health and profitable keeping, (c) to purchase 

 pigs and feeding stuffs on co-operative lines, (d) t-o encourage 

 the cultivation of potatoes and other crops for human and pig 

 consumption. Each local club defines its own area, appoints 

 its own committee and officers, becomes responsible for its 



