PALISH, /IASCA
Dorothy M. Bell
-Editor
Published every week at Palmar, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Palmers' Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations T7ork, Problems ani
Accomplishments and dissemination of information of a publifi character*
SUBSCRIPTION HATE $1.75 per year
10/ a copy
you ROD yOUR COOPERATIVE.
Members rho'attended the third quarterly meeting of theMatanuska Farmers' Ccroperating
Association, if they istened carefully to reports, could notice an improvement in
conditions over previous report si Then ally association has difficulties such as has
been e;rerienced by our local association, it cannot be expected to pull out of it
over night. An improvement is the best one can expect in a short time.
The problems of our local Association have been big ones—in fact, enormous. Many of
them hit us at a most critical time vrhen we were practically helpless. Some of them
can ho remedied by the management and Board of Directors. Others can be remedied
only by the members themselves. For the purpose of analysis, vre htoll divide them in
that ray.
One of our biggest and hardest problems to solve has been the high operational costs
and overhead. Hie biggest drag here has been the faulty heating system. The Cooper
ative is in no way responsible for the installation of the system we have. It was
wished onto us at the time we purchased the set-up, but we have it. Everyone has
known for a long time that untold amounts of heat have been making it possible to
almost plant gardens in the winter time on top of the lines. This 0scape of heat is
due to poor insulation of lines, faulty valves and worn out boilers. During the Tar
years it was impossible to do much to correct this situation', but now the management
is making a study of the situation to determine what is best. Having to do this at
a time when everything is so high is going to make it an expensive proposition at the
best. *~e can only hope that the improvement will more than offset the present waste.
The labor problem has been another serious one. This is not a unique one with the
Co-op for all over the country one gets similar reports. However, it does appear
that your association has made improvement in this line during the past year.
As far as the members are concerned, they also carry a lagge shhre of the responsibilA,
ity for the success or failure of their Cooperative Association,
Your association does not owe you a livng wage from your farm just because you are
a member. It is up to you to provide your association with the products from your
business that will bring the best price on the market. Your association hasn't a
bottomless sock of money from which to pay you for produce that must be dumped in
the rivor. Your association can keep money in that sock to pay you—only when it
can in turn sell your products at a profit sufficient to cover the cost of handling.
It was a big step forward in the progress of the Association when several manbers at
the last meeting got to their feet and said, " Te haven't cooperated."
Only when you use your association as'it should be used—as a Marketing Association
for the finest products on the Market, and not as a dunning ground—can we really
make progress. If a farmer is not willing to produce the finest, or If he cannot
produce the finest due to factors beyond his control, then he should find something
else to do. This will have to be done or everyone will have to get cut of the field.
Few realise just what a close down of your Produce department nDUld me&n. Just im
agino a hundred farmers trying to sell individually on the open market. Price cut
ting would become throat-cutting on the market and every farmer would be ruined.
Those with the poorest ouality'would starve to death, and those withthe best would
come Close to it. Cooperatives were formed to protect farmers from just such prac
tices, and the fanners of the Matanuska Valley will be wise to heed the experiences
of the farmers of the past who formed these Associations to protect themselves.
Yours for a successful Cooperative",
Your Editor.
The VAIXET SjJITLSR is now being mailed to all members of the Matanuska Valley Partn
ersr Cooperating'Association by the Association. It is your paper and you are en
titled to'a copy. If you hear of anyone toho is entitled to the paper and is not re
cevir.g it, rill you kindly let the Editor know so that the list can be made more’
complete. Others who wish the paper may have it mailed by buying a subscription!
,'e hope tY at this system of distribution will be more satisfactory to all concerned.