§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the success which has attended the co-operative marketing of agricultural produce on the Continent and in at least two cases in Scotland, what efforts are being made by his Department to carry on among farmers an educational campaign in favour of co-operative methods?
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Mr. GUINNESSComprehensive reports on the co-operative marketing of agricultural produce in this country and in the United States have been issued by my Department in its current Economic Series of publications. The other reports in this series which deal with the marketing of specific commodities give prominence to the question of co-operative marketing according to circumstances. Nearly 65,000 copies of these reports have been sold to date. A special free leaflet has also been widely circulated describing the working of the co-operative egg - packing station at Cheltenham. I can assure the hon. Baronet that no opportunity is lost of pointing out the advantage of co-operative organisation generally, and especially in the developments now proceeding in regard to schemes having for their basis the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act of last Session.