Agriculture -- Canada; Agriculture -- Canada -- Societies, etc.
It will be seen that with such complete and solid business resources
established in the three Prairie Provinces the organized farmers have
been in a position to widen their field of influence and to carry on
much propaganda work. The Movement has spread steadily until it
embraces organization in other than prairie provinces. There seems to
be a tendency among the entire agricultural population of Canada to
organize and co-operate; so that it is not impossible for Canadian
farmers in time to have a unity of organization in every province of
the Dominion.
In Ontario for many years there have been various farmers clubs,
associations or granges. Until 1914 these were merely disorganized
units. At the annual meeting of the Dominion Grange, however--December
17th and 18th, 1913--the advisability of consolidating for greater
co-operation was discussed at some length. Representatives from the
Western Grain Growers were present and told the story of what the
Western farmer had accomplished. A committee[2] was appointed and,
after investigating rural conditions in Ontario, this committee called
a convention for March 19th and 20th, 1914, at Toronto. Farmers and
fruit growers turned out in strength, old-time organization was cast
aside and there came into being the "United Farmers of Ontario," [2]
and the "United Farmers' Co-Operative Company, Limited," [3] with aims
and organization similar to those of the Grain Growers.
Although practically born during the war--although conditions have been
far from normal, the United Farmers of Ontario have progressed steadily
and naturally, with the co-operative activities setting the pace and
with efficient service as the watchword. By 1915 there were 126 local
associations with a total membership of 5,000. In the face of bad
climatic conditions and war disturbances 1916 found the young
organization being looked upon by the Ontario agriculturists with
interest instead of suspicion. It continued to grow of its own accord.
By that is meant that no advertising or other energetic campaign was
undertaken; yet the membership increased during the year to 8,000 with
200 Locals organized throughout the province. To-day there is a total
membership in excess of twenty thousand throughout the Province. Local
conventions, addressed by Western leaders and other qualified speakers,
have become a feature of the development.
The first month in business for the United Farmers' Co-Operative
Company was September, 1914, when $827 was taken in. The next month
the sales increased to $6,250, and in November to $8,214. The December
sales jumped to $17,970. The sales for 1915 approximated $226,000. In
1916 this amount was nearly doubled and during the first five months of
1917 the business done reached a total of $513,000. All this on
paid-up capital of only $5,000. The Ontario Company has secured a new
charter, increasing its authorized capital from $10,000 to $250,000.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account