22 
justs distribution so supply meets de- dicap to’it, the writer is firmly of the 
mand, and carries out other work of opinion that legislation of this type is 
a like nature, the industry benefits as unsound. Co-operation is the work- 
a whole. This brings up a very serious ing together of men for their mutual 
question. The members of the organ- advantage and as such must be free 
ization are paying for activities that and voluntary association. As soon 
benefit non-members as well. The as producers are compelled to 
latter reap many of the advantages join a society or company, true co- 
resulting from co-operation but not operation no longer exists for these 
only do they fail to lend it their finan- members who are taken into the 
cial as well as moral support, but to association by force.” One of the fun- 
a certain extent they act as a distinct damentals underlying successful co- 
handicap or drag to the organization. operation is the loyalty, mutual con- 
Thus the question arises, what can he fidence and trust of the members in 
done to meet this situation? The their organization. When members are 
recent amendment, Act 38 of 1925, to compelled by law to join an associa- 
the Co-operative Societies Agt (No. tion they will not have any of these 
28 of 1922) is a drastic step aimed points but will rather have distrust 
to compel non-co-operators to join, and enmity toward the organization 
under certain conditions, co-operative and the very opposite of goodwill is 
organizations. fostered by forcing men to join when 
they do not wish to join. 
COMPULSORY CO-OPERATION. 
The portion of the amendment re- COMPETITION BENEFICIAL, 
lating to compulsory co-operation Further, the writer feels strongly 
reads as follows: — that even though all of the producers 
“Whenever the Minister (for Agri- of a given article were voluntar i- 
culture) is satisfied that in any dis- ly to join a co-operative society or 
trict, area or province at least seven- company, such 100 percent organiza- 
ty-five per cent of the producers of tion would not produce the best re- 
any kind of agricultural produce are sults. When an organization controls 
the producers of at least seventy-five 85 per cent or 90 per cent of the 
percent of such produce produced in product it handles it has gone far 
that district, area or province and enough. The outstanding 10 per 
are members of a co-operative agri- cent or 15 per cent is not enough to 
cultural society or company register- interfere seriously with the marketing 
ed under the principal Act, or any policy of the organization and the 
amendment thereof, and which has as competition created by this non- 
one of its objects the disposal of that organization produce is just what is 
kind of agricultural produce, the needed to keep up the efficiency of 
Minister may, at the request of such the organization. When an organiza- 
society or company, by notice in the tion controls 100 per cent of the 
Gazette declare that, from a product it is created to handle it has 
date to be stated in the notice, each no spur or incentive to outdo anyone 
producer of that kind of produce, in and the tendency under such a condi- 
such district, area or province as tion is naturally toward relaxation of 
shall be named in the notice, shall effort. When an organization hag 
sell such produce produced by him competition it knows that if it does 
through the said society or company not show as good or better results 
whether he be a member thereof or than its competitor or non-members, 
not.” its members will want to know the 
Although non-members of a large reason and if satisfactory reasons are 
co-operative organization are benefited not forth-coming, support is gradually 
in some ways as well as the members, drawn away from the organization or 
and although they do not support the the management is changed. Thus 
organization and in fact act as a hah- it is that when a small portion of a