Miscellaneous, 



308 



[Mat 1907. 



Throughout the whole of this co-operative movement, whether in Great 

 Britain or on the Continent, the importance of the small holder is prominently- 

 brought out. He it is who is the main support of such societies and, in fact, the main 

 producer of the stuff dealt with by co-operative societies. The deputation already 

 referred to, which visited Denmark, stated that, as an example in small farming a 

 visit was paid to a prize farm of 10 acres, which maintained from 3 to 4 cows, and 

 which in 1902 brought a sum of 810Kr. for milk (note, SlOKr.— £44 lis.). This small 

 farm was worked with one horse, and the arrangement of the offices and the general 

 surroundings of the little homestead reflected the greatest credit upon the peasant 

 occupier, who was, indeed, exceedingly proud of his possessions. On a third farm, 

 visited by the deputation, of 75 acres, 14 milch cows were kept, and four horses. 

 There were two sows with two litters ; and about 30 pigs were annually sold off the 

 farm- The average return for milk was 210 Kr. (£13 4s.) without taking into account 

 the milk used in the household and a certain quantity which had been sold to farm 

 labourers in the locality. 



Mr. Pratt makes a strong point that each local co-operative society must 

 fulfil its own particular purpose according to the special needs of the locality where 

 it exists, but that collective purchase has, nevertheless, been found to represent the 

 most practical and the most hopeful means of making a start. Collective sale is a 

 higher standard which will be duly attained when the education of the farmers in 

 matters co-operative has been sufficiently advanced. 



The more prudent advocates of agricultural combination have been averse to 

 the mixing up of domestic and business considerations, and have advocated that the 

 co-operative purchase of fertilisers and implements for the fields should be kept 

 distinct from the co-operative purchase of flour and sugar for the household. 

 Although at first there is likely to be opposition on the part of the storekeepers to 

 the formation of agricultural societies for the purchase of agricultural necessaries, 

 yet, when they see that, although as a consequence of the formation of such societies, 

 they are not able to obtain so much profit per article, by the same means farmers 

 are able to purchase larger quantities, their opposition will cease as it has done in 

 other countries— but the middleman, pure and simple, must go. By dealing direct in 

 large orders the merchants have certain expenses such as travellers' commission, 

 advertising, etc, and the risk of bad debts, saved ; and can, therefore, quote more 

 reasonable terms. 



The nucleus of an agricultural society is already in existence in each district 

 of Natal, in the shape of the local farmers' association or club ; any information 

 which such farmers' association or club may require previous to the formation of a 

 small co-operative society, can be obtained on application to the Department of 

 Agriculture, Maritzburg ; and, should the co-operation decided upon by such farmers' 

 association or club take a form, or develop into an undertaking, in which financial 

 assistance, in the way of loan for capital purposes, is required, the Agricultural 

 Development Act, 1904. empowers the Government, through the medium of the Land 

 Board, to advance whatever money may be required. The sections bearing upon 

 loans to assist agriculturists in the establishment of co-operation concerns are as 

 follows :— 



56. The Board may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, assist 

 agriculturists in the establishment of factories or ihe like for the 

 purpose of the manu f'acture of dairy and farming produce, such ns 

 butter, cheese, and tobacco, or the packing and the preserving of 

 fruit, or any other factories for the purpose of the better utilisation 

 or marketing of raw produce. 



57. No scheme for any such undertaking shall be approved unless it is to 

 be established and carried on by an association in the nature of what 



