82 



Poultry Societies in Ireland. [may, 



industry is considered legitimate work for a co-operative poultry 

 society. 



In order to give my readers a clear idea of the constitution 

 and functions of our co-operative poultry societies, I think 

 the best course is to take a typical society as a model and 

 describe its constitution and its work. With this object I have 

 selected the Dervock Poultry Society, which is situated near 

 Ballyirioney, in county Antrim. Nearly all the photographs 

 taken to illustrate this article were taken on the premises of 

 the Dervock Society. 



This society was established in October, 1901, with a 

 membership of about 500 and a paid-up capital of about £250. 

 Since that time the membership has increased to 700, and the 

 paid-up capital is now £3 50. The nominal capital is £700, so 

 that it appears half has been called up. The nominal value of 

 the shares is only 5s. each, and in order to become a member of 

 the society it is compulsory to take at least one share. The 

 purpose in fixing the value of shares so low as 5s. is in order 

 that every person in the locality, rich or poor, may become 

 a member by taking one share, but a scale has been laid 

 down to regulate the number of shares which each member 

 ought to take. The poor man, who keeps twenty-five hens 

 or less, may join the society by taking one share, but the 

 farmer who keeps one hundred hens must take four shares 

 in order to qualify for membership. The scale is one share 

 to be taken for every twenty-five hens kept. The 700 members 

 of this society have taken, on an average, four shares each, 

 so that the average size of the flocks may be taken at one 

 hundred hens. There are many labourers who keep only twenty 

 to thirty, but there are some farmers who keep 200 or 300. 



The society is a limited liability company, so that each 

 member is liable only for the amount of his share or shares. 

 It is governed by a committee of ten members, elected by 

 the shareholders, and in the election of the committee every 

 member has one vote only, whether he holds one share or 

 more. 



Subject to the committee there is a paid manager, who must 

 be a thoroughly competent business man, and he is paid a salary 

 in accordance with the business and success of the society. The 



