The NCT Story

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THE LATE FORTIES • visionaries

I n the beginning , there was only wattle bark. No one was particularly interested in the timber. Tannin was the reason for the existence of many timber farmers in South Africa during the years following World War 2 and the marketing of timber was unco-ordinated and haphazard. On November 24th 1948, a group of 28 timber farmers in the Umvoti and New Hanover areas got together under the auspices of the Union Co-operative Limited (then known as the Union Co-operative Bark and Milling Company Limited). Led by Mr H F C (Heine) Küsel, they discussed the problems they were experiencing trying to negotiate the sale of their timber. As individuals, their bargaining power was weak. As a united group, marketing their timber collectively, they stood a better chance. As the regulations of the Union Co-operative prohibited trading in this type of market it was decided to form a separate co operative.The meeting unanimously agreed to the concept and such was the enthusiasm prevailing at the gathering that eighteen of those present immediately applied for shares in the body yet to be formed. The new organisation was registered with the Registrar of Co operatives on 3 February 1949 as The Natal Co-operative Timber Company Limited. (Later in 1993 in keeping with popular usage, the name was altered to NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited.) Initially the secretarial and administrative functions were undertaken by the Union Co-operative, who continued to perform this service on NCT’s behalf with great efficiency until 1975.

Shares were issued at a nominal value of £1 (at the time R2.00) each, of which growers paid an issue price of one shilling (ten cents) per share. The number of shares for which growers could apply, was based on one share per acre of trees, multiplied by the total area of trees an applicant owned. Initially members held in total about 8 000 hectares (20 000 acres) of trees. Fifty years later, the members’ plantations cover a vast 200 000 hectares. NCT’s first directors were chairman JM Hershensohnn, deputy chairman RB Fyfe and GV Howard, Heine Küsel, OH Klipp, Colonel WS Slatter, J Hunt-Holly Jnr, SJ Nuss and WF Schmidt.

Mr JM Hershensohnn First Chairman of NCT 1949 to 1954 Jim Hershensohnn farmed in the Dalton district and was a very tough negotiator when it came to timber sales for the members of NCT

The NCT Story

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