191 1.] Co-operative Movement in Denmark. 479 



operative pig-killing and bacon-curing factory is, mutatis 

 mutandis, materially the same as that of a co-operative dairy. 

 The area over which the members of a co-operative 

 slaughtery are scattered is naturally larger than that covered 

 by a dairy. The consignments to the factory are neither 

 daily, nor in small quantities, as in the case of dairies, but 

 at longer intervals and in larger quantities. Again, the 

 perishable nature of milk necessarily limits the distance over 

 which it can be transported, while with the live pig this is 

 not the case. The risks of transport are borne by the factory 

 once the pig has been consigned ; moreover, the factory bears 

 the cost of transport for such pigs as are sent by train, so 

 that all pigs, whether from far or near, arrive at the factory 

 at an equal minimum of cost to the farmer. 



The money for erecting the factories was raised by loans, 

 as in the case of the dairies, the guarantee being in this case 

 also for a certain number of years, generally five, seven, or 

 ten. In most cases the original loans have already been paid 

 off, and the factories are owned by the members themselves. 

 The members bind themselves to deliver all their pigs to 

 the factory (generally with the exception of the sows and 

 hogs for breeding purposes and young pigs under a certain 

 weight). They may, however, sell to a fellow-member, upon 

 whom the obligation towards the factory devolves. Special 

 rules are made as to the admittance of new members subse- 

 quent to the foundation of the factory. 



The members elect their committee, which in turn elects its 

 chairman and vice-chairman, and appoints a director of the 

 factory, and in some cases certain other officials. The director 

 manages the factory under the control of the committee. 



The Associated Danish Co-operative Pig Slaughteries. — 

 This association (De Samvirkende Danske Andels-Svine- 

 slagterier) was founded in 1897, and thirty-three out of thirty- 

 six co-operative slaughteries in Denmark belong to it. It 

 consists of members of the committees of all the associated 

 factories, who elect a committee of five of their members, who 

 stay in office for two years, and of two factory directors, who 

 hold office for a year. The expenses of the association are 

 divided among the associated factories in proportion to the 

 number of pigs they have slaughtered, and varies from one 

 to two ore per pig— in all about Kr. 15,000 (^833). 



