The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1882. THE INCORPORATION OF THE BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 605, 2 May 1882, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1882. THE INCORPORATION OF THE BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB.

That the Farmers' Club has already done much good is allowed generally. Through its exertions the market was relieved of a superfluous stock of cheese, and the solving of the problem of how to send it Home in a marketable condition was commenced. The price, also, of certain articles required by the chee.-se-

makers from England was lowered to an almost ridiculous extent; and last, but not least, the farmers themselves have learnt the power they possess of doing good to themselves by combination. But though some little has been acconip'islii'd, much more remains to bo done. The Agricultural and Pastoral Show, which fell through some little time ago, has to be re-established, in the first instance, and to do this funds are needed. No doubt these funds could be procured by some of the members of the Club rendering themselves responsible, but that is an unwise system,, for it means placing some under an obligation to the rest, and destroys that equality of position in the society that has hitherto been ensured by a uniform subscription. These inequilities are very bad things, and nothing shows it more than the collapse of the last series of Agricnltural and Pastoral Shows, which occurred, it is said, through the death of one prominent member. Now, however wise or enthusiastic any one man may be, a society should be in a position to stand his loss, Often, when one person takes a very prominent position, and insists on doing all himself, he prevents others from assisting, and when lie is gone they arc helpless. He is like a great pine, that throws such a shade around him that the young trees near hin are dwarfed into insignificance and uselessness by his proximity. This being the case, it is clearly a wrong principle to allow any member, or few members, of the Farmers' Club to render themselves responsible for the money for the yards, as it puts all the others in a false position ; and therefore a remedy was required. This remedy was found by Mr McGregor in " The Agricultural and Pastoral Associations Act, 1877," which seems specially devised to meet the case. The Act provides that any fifty persons binding themselves together for certain purposes jof an agricultural and pastoral nature, ! including the holding of shows, the reading of papers, the improvement of the manufacture of dairy produco, and of the growing of cereals, and many other objects of a kindred nature too numerous to mention, can be formed into a corporation by the Governor in Council, with power to sue and be sued, to borrow money, and exercise other privileges.

This seems to us the true reading of the riddle. Once incorporated ns a society under this Act, with a uniform yearly subscription as at present, and all are equally responsible. The society will have a right to sue, and they will be able to borrow money more advantageously than individuals could. They could undertake greater things with less probability of failure, and their status would be superior in eyery way. Such a society, if joined by the majority of those interested in agricultural and pastoral pursuits on the Peninsula, would have great power for good. Not only farmers should be members, but merchants, storekeepers, and others, who derive their profits from the producer, for they are all as much interested in his success as he is himself, and should foster all attempts to improve his position. A society so welded together would gain vastly from the fact that it was composed not only ot the farmers, who know how to produce, but of the men of business also, whose own particular knowledge is not less important in the successful carrying out of such an enterprise.

We think, therefore, that the committee appointed to devise the best means to raise funds for the erection of the proposed show yards at Duvauchelle's Bay hive shown true wisdom in recommending that the Farmers' Club should be incorporated under " The Agricultural and Pastoral Associations Act." We also think that the course pursued by the meeting on Saturday, of calling a public meeting at the Head of the Bay for May the 13th, to consider the question of resolving the Farmer's Club into a corporate body, with the names of all those added who are interested in agricultural and pastoral matters, and are willing to take a share in the good work, one equally full of wisdom. It is to be hoped that there will be a really large gathering, so that the necessary fifty names can be procured at once, and no valuable time be lost; and with this end in view we would suggest that the petition to the Governor in Council should be ready drawn up, so that if the meeting agree to the proposition before them, tho business may be at once commence 1.

We sincerely believe that such an association, if they worked together, would bo powerful enough to induce shipowners to make special arrangements for an annual shipment of cheese, in whatever manner the society might suggest; and this alone would be worth a great deal, for if it were a regular thing, some means would soon be devised by which it could get Home in first-class order.

We look lorward with confidence to seeing a very large and influential meeting on May 13th, at which representatives from all the Bays will bo present, for we are confident that if all work together in this matter, it will be for the general advancement and prosperity o the Peninsula.