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IMARKETING PRODUCE.

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MARKETING PRODUCE. I" A very important meeting was held at Lampetcr on Monday when the Car- digan Horticultural Sub-Committee met Mr. J. R. Hall, a representahve of the Marketing" Section of the Food Production Department, and discussed a scheme for the marketirig of surplus produce. The broad outline of the sug- gestion is that every county should have, through its Horticultural Committee, an organisation which can give instan- taneously to the Government full par- ticulars as to crops and supplies of all kinds of produce. The aim of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (of which the Food Production Department forms a part) is to organise the market- ing of all the produce of the land on lines similar to those of Denmark and Holland-lines which have proved strikingly successful. Both the countries named have built up their trade on the principles of co-operative societies, and the new scheme which was put forward at Lampeter was for the Committee to form a County Association with collecting centres at convenient points, vegetables, etc., to be dumped at the centre, and sent away in big consignments. In leaflet F.P. 209H, the whole matter is admirably set forth. The Department appeals primarily to the patriotism of the people, but points out 'that in a time of scarcity the scheme 'cannot fail to be self-supporting. The counties of North Wale.s have taken the work up with enthusiasm, and Merioneth, Car- narvon, Montgomery, Flint, and Den- bigh are joined in otie big association. Only ten counties in England have not yet made the necessary arrangements, and these will undoubtedly do so within the next few weeks. The Marketing Executive which is to do the work is organised and appointed at public con- ) ferenees called in th* various districts bv the Horticultural Committee, and the work of the ExecutVe is not only, to arrange the export ol produce to other counties, but to secure equable distribution within its own area. There is a financial aspect to this matter and a Guarantee Fund has h, be secured. This Fund is similar to the capital of the ordinary co-operative society- and the sum suggested is ^2,000, which would be obtained by the sale of shares. As there are certain grants from the Board, it need be nothing more than a guarantee. In North Wales, by the grouping of counties and the pooling of grants, much more is made possible but if Cardigan takes up the scheme it can, by working through the existing societies, do more to prevent waste and ensure fair prices than has ever been I the case before. The Tregaron Society is a striking instance of what a \farmers' co-operative society can do, and to put it plainly, it is an extension of Tregaron methods that the pro- moters have in view. The County Association then becomes a central organisation for the several individual societies, and the Government is in a postion to ascertain what output may be secured from each county what their special producd is; what the resources are, and to help materially in the matter of seeds, etc., as well as providing always a certain sale at the current prices. It would be quite in accordance with the wishes of the Department for a four-ton consignment of potatoes to be put on rail addressed to the Ministry of Food, and the growers would thus have no trouble at all about finding a market. An important question is that of Registration, and it must be clearly understood that new societies would affiliate to the County Association and would then secure all the benefits which the Board offers. These cannot be obtained unless the society was regis- tered before June ist or is now affili- ated to the County Association. All registered societies are of limited liability, whilst in the case of those unregistered the secretary and individual members of the Committee are liable. Another matter of prac- tical difficulty in Cardiganshire is that of transport, and although the leaflet referred to states that the Ministry of Food has no commercial vehicles, Mr. Hall told Monday's meeting that since the issue of the pamphlet this had been remedied, and now not only vehicles but also petrol could be obtained by county associations. This work would also have the help and guidance of the transport officers, horse officers, and other officials already at work, and the village depots would be worked by a committee with a secretary and trea- surer and, if necessary, an honorarium would be paid for these minor positions. This is a matter of much importance to farmers, smallholders, and allotment holders, and it is not easy to set forth all the advantages which would follow its adoption. The Nortel Wales scheme will be vatched with much interest. If Cardiganshire can arrange and work such an Association, it will put money into the pockets of the growers. No- body denies that difficulties exist but they exist only to be overcome, and for the first time the Government of the kingdom is realising the value of the food grower and helping him in a practical fashion. This fact alone is sufficient to warrant taking up the work.

A POPULAR HONOUR.

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