SPECIAL REPORTS FOR FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, 113
Board of control of Association-Centrale des Laiteries Coopératives des Charentes
 et du Poitou.
M. Barit, société de Matha.
“. Cail, société d'Echiré.
"I, Gerbidon, société de Ligueil.
\ Jollivet, société de Vouhé. .
. Parenteau, société de Sainte-Hermine,
. Primault, société de Saint-Varent.
Board of control of Union des Caséineries.,
M. Caillas, société d’Irleau.
M. Morisset, société de Bois-Hardi.
M. Primault, société de Saint-Varent.

Delegates to the administrative council of the Association Centrale des Laiteries
Coopératives des Charentes et du Poitou.

UM. Landriau, managing director.
, Bonnin, société d’Aigrefeuille,
Lavois, société d’Uzelet.
Micou, société de Maillezais.
Moreau, société de Mazeau.
Pérault, société de Saint-Loup.

wr

Société Saliniére de UOuest (Western Salt Society).—This syndicate
 came into being in 1901 under the name of the Association
Syndicale des Salines de I’Ouest. Its duration was fixed by the
statutes at 10 years. Its organization was the direct result of the
decreasing price of salt in the region. The salt marshes at that
time were in the hands of small producers, with no capital, whose
only labor was furnished by the various members of the family. The
result was strong competition in the selling market, and the price
of salt had fallen to 5 francs (97 cents) a ton. The whole ol in
the business went into the hands of the salt merchants, who acted as
intermediaries between the producers and the retailers. At 5 francs
2 ton a full day’s labor netted each working member of the family
7 or 8 cents. The Association Syndicale des Salines de 1’Quest
orought together about nine-tenths of the salt producers of western
France. Its capital was fixed at 90,000 francs ($17,370) and stock
was issued at 25 francs ($4.83) a share. Each adherent to the organization
 bound himself to sell his entire production to the syndicate,
 which in turn was to provide him with an adequate market.
The statutory minimum price was fixed at 15 francs (52.90) a ton.
The delivery of the salt was to be made according to the demands of
the trade. Notwithstanding the fact that deliveries were made in
small installments, scattered throughout 12 months, it frequently
occurred that the syndicate advanced to needy producers a sum of
money approximating their annual production. In order that the
sonsumer would not be affected by the increase in price paid to the
producer, the syndicate agreed to regulate its selling price so that
the retail price would not exceed 20 centimes (3.86 cents) a kilogram
 (2.20 pounds). It must be remembered that the retail price
includes an internal tax at the rate of 100 francs S150) a ton.
At the same time, the Association Syndicale de 1’Ouest made an
agreement with the three other salt syndicates in France (Association
 des Salins de I’Est, Association des Salins du Midi, and the
Comptoir des Sels de Bayonne) for the division of France into
zones, within which each syndicate would find an exclusive market
for its output. The zone accorded the Association Syndicales des
97941°—pr 2—16——8