5
SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1974
FURTHER CONSOLIDATION OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES URGED
THE PROCESS QOF CONSOLIDATION IN HONG KONG'S CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT, WHICH HAS REMAINED +REASONABLY HEALTHY+ SINCE ITS BEGINNING IN 1952, SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND IN A VERY LOGICAL PATTERN.
THIS WAS THE OPINION EXPRESSED BY MR. E.H. NICHOLS, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE GATHERING AT THE CELEBRATION DINNER PARTY OF THE 52ND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE DAY HELD AT THE GOOD DATES RESTAURANT THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
HE STRONGLY ADVOCATED THAT ALL THE PRIMARY PRODUCER SOCIETIES SHOULD EXPAND THEIR SCOPE TO COVER THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AREAS FOR CO-OPERATIVE ACTION, NAMELY, IN THE JOINT PURCHASE OF INPUTS, THE PROVISION OF CREDIT FACILITIES AND ASSISTANCE IN MARKETING AND OTHER SERVICES TO THE FARMER OR FISHERMAN.
+WHOLESALE PURCHASE OF INPUTS, THROUGH THE SOCIETY, CAN ONLY STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER,+ HE SAID.
MR. NICHOLS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS ROOM FOR PHYSICAL AND MANAGERIAL CONSOLIDATION BY THE MORGING OF SOCIETIES. +IN THIS WAY THEY CAN COMMAND BOTH A GREATER CAPITAL BASE AND AN INCREASED MEMBERSHIP.+
THE MANAGERIAL MERGER OF THE FEDERATIONS OF FISHERMEN'S SOCIETIES, BASED ON VARIOUS PORTS, AS +NEV LOOK+ STRENGTHENED SOCIETIES HE SAID, WOULD ECONOMISE IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT, SERVICES AND SO ON.
HE ADDED THAT IN BOTH THE SPHERES OF FISHERIES AND FARMING, HIS STAFF WOULD ALWAYS BE TOO PLEASED TO ADVISE AND ASSIST IN ANY SUCH ORGANISATION AS THE SOCIETIES NIGHT WISH TO CONTEMPLATE.
MR. NICHOLS WENT ON TO SAY THAT IF THE CHALLENGE OF AMALGAMATION
WERE ACCEPTED, THE CRED IT-WORTHINESS OF THE ENLARGED SOCIETY WOULD BE ENHANCED. + IT SHOULD ALSO EECOME POSSIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY TO EMPLOY MORE QUALIFIED AND KORE HIGHLY-PAID MANAGEMENT STAFF TO LOOK AFTER THEIR AFFAIRS WHICH IN ITSELF WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PRESENT PRESSURE ON SOCIETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. HE NOTED.
+ IN OTHER WORDS, WELL-MANAGED, SUCCESSFUL SOCIETIES SHOULD ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS, WHO SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED PROVIDING THEY ARE PREPARED TO DO THEIR SHARE IN ADVANCING SOCIETY BUSINESS SO THAT ULTIMATELY THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT HAS A STRONG AND INCREASING VOICE IN LOCAL AFFAIRS, SAID MR. NICHOLS.