Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Social Movements - 1. Labour Questions and Social politics - Cooperative Societies. By G. H. von Koch
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v. social movements.
together the farmers into a purchasers’ society, and in Västernorrland län there
were formed at about the same time a number of farmers’ societies, which,
however, were not amalgamated into a federation before 1900. But the real
success did not come until 1904, when, partly on Danish and German models, central
associations were formed in some of the läns. In the course of four years all
the läns of Sweden, with only two exceptions, had established central purchasing
organizations, which, with their branches, formed a network ramifying over the
whole country, and took in hand the purchase of the most important farmers’
necessaries, principally fodders, manures, and seeds. To a minor extent they
also undertook the sale of corn and other goods on account of their members.
The mode in which these central associations were constituted was rather
heterogeneous: two of them were formed as joint stock companies, the rest as
cooperative societies with limited, or without personal, liability.
In order to give the reader some notion of the way in which these societies
are organized, it is proposed to give a brief account of the organization of the
"Skånska Lantmännens Centralförening" (The Central Association of Scanian
Farmers). This Association, which embraces the whole of Skåne in its sweep,
is composed (1) of individual farmers cultivating at least 200 hectares of arable
ground, and (2) of local societies whose members cultivate collectively that
amount of arable ground. The number of individual members in 1912 was 28,
and the number of local societies 109, aggregating 3 583 members. The
contribution due from entering members is 5 kronor per hectare of arable ground, out
of which one krona per hectare is paid cash down on admission, and the
remaining four kronor in the form of a note of hand made out to the Association,
and payable three months after notice received. Besides the amount of his
contribution, each member is liable for a further amount of 5 kronor per hectare,
which, however can only be called upon in the event of the society being
wound up. The contributions and the extent of the liability are the same for
the local societies, which pass on to the central association both the
contributions and the notes of hand. The members are bound over in fines to purchase
a certain amount of fodders and manures. At the general meetings of the local
societies, each member have one vote to each share, at the general meetings
of the central association one vote to every 200 shares. In 1912 the turnover
was well-nigh 41/2 million kronor. The net profit was 100 750 kronor, out of
which, after writing off an appropriation to the reserve fund, a dividend of 5
per cent was made on the cash amounts of the contributions, and a dividend
of 1^/2 °/o on goods purchased by members in the course of the year.
The aggregate turnover of the central associations amounted in 1910 to over
15 million kronor, the purchases figuring at 13 "8 millon kronor, and the sales at
1*2 million kronor.
After the central associations had for some time operated independently of
one another, and the need of amalgamation made itself more and more urgently
felt, they resolved at a meeting in 1905 to endeavour to set on foot a
federation embracing the whole of Sweden. They succeeded. This federation, which
was designated the "Svenska Lantmännens Riksförbund" (Swedish Farmers’
National Association), was composed in 1912 of 19 central associations with 3 000
individual members and about 850 local societies aggregating about 40 000
members. These members collectively cultivated no less than 13 % of the total
of arable land in Sweden.
In the same year (1912) the turnover for goods passing from the National
Association to the central associations was close on 9 million kronor, and the
net profit about 46 000 kronor. The entire turnover of the central associations
in 1912 was approximately 18 million kronor. The discounts given to members
ran into about 179 000 kronor.
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