posted on 2024-11-18, 09:10authored byNeville Arrowsmith, Ray Markey
Here in Australia, as in other countries, the co-operatives were most successful where the need was greatest. Thus Consumer Cooperatives flourished on the NSW coalfields where they helped the miners and their families through many difficult times and bought educational and social benefits. As may have been expected in our mainly primary producing country, Producers' Societies exceeded Consumers' Cocoperatives both in numbers and volume of business. The dairying industry in NSW and Queensland afforded the most outstanding examples of producer co-operation, but several large undertakings handling fruit packing and marketing were also important. Many of the Producers' Societies expanded into consumer activities in order to supply their members with goods and services at a cheaper rate. The Poultry Farmers of Queensland, The Eudunda Farmers of South Australia and The Westralian Farmers were examples. Housing was another field in which co-operatives had outstanding success. The Building Societies of NSW and Victoria were particularly strong and showed that they could be a valuable starting point for the development of Housing and Community Advancement Societies and Credit Unions.