3 82 



Co-operation in Holland. 



The funds of the society are derived from a yearly subscription 

 of is. 8d. per member, and from a commission charged on the 

 amount realised for the goods sold. In the case of what are 

 known as large auctions, which include large consignments of 

 potatoes, Brussels sprouts, beans, peas, gooseberries, and plums 

 purchased by sample, the commission is fixed at I per cent., 

 and for small auctions or sales of small quantities of fruit, 

 cucumbers, and other produce, 2 per cent, of the sale price 

 is deducted. 



. The sum realised by the sales is distributed at the end of 

 each week amongst the members who have sent goods to the 

 auctions, each receiving the amount for which his produce was 

 sold, less the commission mentioned above. 



In 1 90 1 the value of the market garden produce sold through 

 the agency of the auctions held by the seven branches of the 

 Westland Society amounted to ^"44,250. 



Associations of the type of the Westland Society, though on 

 a smaller scale, are to be found throughout the market garden 

 districts of North Holland. Several of them are in operation 

 in the Districts of Alkmaar and Bovenkarspel, and the greater 

 part of the cauliflower and cabbage crops grown in the neigh 

 bourhood of these places is disposed of by co-operative auction 

 sales in buildings erected by such societies. The principal object 

 of them all is to sell the produce of their members to the best 

 advantage, and to maintain the reputation of Dutch produce for 

 uniformity of quality by the inspection and marking of goods 

 offered for sale. Unsuitable produce is either rejected, or, if 

 it is inadvertently passed by the examining committee, and a 

 well-founded complaint is subsequently made by the purchaser, 

 the producer is either compelled to take the goods back or to 

 allow compensation to the purchaser on a scale fixed by the 

 society. In the case of one co-operative auction mart near 

 Bovenkarspel, a black board headed " Black List " is placed in 

 a conspicuous position outside the mart, and on this the president 

 of the society writes the name of any member who has 'en- 

 deavoured to pass inferior produce, and the name of any dealer 

 who is in default with his payments. 



At Bovenkarspel cabbages and cauliflowers are the principal 

 products sold at the co-operative auctions. The mart is situated 



