The NCT Story

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P R E F A C E

C O N T E N T S

In February 1999 NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited celebrated its golden jubilee – a half century of operations. This does not make it the oldest co-operative in South Africa nor the biggest – although it is the largest private timber organisation of its kind in the country. But size and age do not necessarily contribute to success. And success and growth is just what have been achieved since its humble beginnings fifty years ago. NCT is owned and directed by timber growers. This makes it a very personal type of organisation, its achievements being credited directly to its members and staff. An observation passed is that over the years it has seldom been necessary for the chairman of the board to call for a vote when there has been a difference of opinion amongst the directors. In most cases when dissension has arisen, the issue has been settled by consensus, and when a vote has been taken those in the minority have always accepted the majority’s decision. Such a democratic approach has probably contributed immeasurably to NCT’s prosperity over the years. The following pages tell in brief the story of an organisation which has followed a dynamic path, at times tempered with discretion, which in turn has made it the body it is today.

Letters of congratulations The Late Forties • visionaries

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The Fifties • in business

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The Sixties • wattle-bark quotas introduced The Seventies • a central timber co-operative 15 The Late Seventies • oversupply leads to exports 19 The Saga of the Teti-N 20 Making an impression on timber over the years 24 The Eighties • membership and markets increase 26 A lament on metrication in the life of a farmer 27 Droughts and floods lead to undersupply 28 A look back in time to a bygone era 30 Everyone wants to join the party 32 Offices of NCT around the country 34 The people who shaped NCT 36 NCT Tree Farming (Pty) Ltd 39 The Nineties • timber on the move 40 NCT • 1999 42 Moving • with the technological times 44 NCT • 50 years ... and still growing 45 NCT celebrates 50 golden years 46

Tony Farrow Researcher of the NCT Story

The NCT Story

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