The really amazing success of the National Mark in the
last six months or so suggests a new form of co-operatior, which may make the merchant an ally, not an enemy, may use his incomparable skill in marketing and overcome the prejudices of the more reactionary farmer. Now what exactly happens under the National Mark ? Mr. Street, who has shown something like genius in his management of the marketing schemes of the Ministry, said : " The applica- tion of the National Mark to agricultural produce is very largely carried out by manufacturers and packers, and only to a partial extent by the actual producers themselves." It is not possible here to give much detail ; it is enough for the moment td say that Mr. Blundell's suggestion is that licences to use the National Mark should be granted exclus- ively to " producer-controlled co-operative societies." One could not imagine a stronger stimulus to the formation of co-operative combinations ; and they would be welcomed rather than opposed by the merchants. It is undoubtedly a fruitful and constructive idea that there should be some such linking up of co-operation and the National Mark. The idea should not be allowed to sleep. Is it altogether too much to hope that it should find organizing support in the National Farmers' Union ?
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