THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 552, 6 July 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

r V C(KPSRATION. ; ITS EFFECT IN NEW ZEALAND. A BULWARK OF INDUSTRY. Co-operation lias undoubtedly accomplished good things' for tho farmers of : Now Zealand. Unlike-the farmers of Britain, : who co-oporated chiefly to buy, New Zealandcrs havo co-operated mainly for selling. Tho English part of co-operation 'is tho easiest' to effect, because it interferes less with that' independence of: action which farmers everywhere prize bo much. New Zealanders havo succeeded in the harder task, and the enormous success, of the co-operative dairy factories is. perhaps the most striking feature of tho Bystem.' Here the farmers cooperative centre not only receives and: sells the farmer's produce, : but converts it from the raw' material into a manufactured article. It docs this in the; face, of ordinary competition from proprietary firms,, and it maintained a standard of excellence in quality, and of eonioray in - expense,, that would do credit to any firm in ' tho world.' It is sometimes a weakness, charged against co-operation at the dairy factories, that the-shareholders are tempted to be negligent of the. quality of the milk they, deliver. But,'if tlus.be true, then, all .tho' more it proves-tho perfection of co-operation attho.factoryend, sbceitis able to counteract the ill effects of the alleged inferior milk. However, there is probably very little truth in the charge that a farmer will.send worso milk to his'own factory, from which he expects a bonus, than he would to a~ proprietary firm in'.' whoso profits he would, have no,interest.. 00-operationiri the making of the butter and cheese,.co-operation in their sale, co-operation" in the'financing of members, and (now) ;in the pasteurising of the whey and skimmed milk—these 'constitute a creditable;record for 1 - a' young .industry. These are instances of mutual assistance as between.members:',.'.'. ' ■.'i., .'■:• National Dairy Association. ';; . The system : goes farther,'and binds fac-tory-to factory. The splendid, conference of the ,'Naiiorial Dairy;. Association' during ..the late Pahnerston Show, with -its discussions on points of great value ,to tho producers, of milk and tho manufacturers of cheese and butter, was an.outcome of such co-operation between factories. ' These had combined to secirre economy and efficiency in shipping the produce away under central supervision, to secure oversight of the conditionsiat the. market end,* aid 1 : tcreffect .the-'purchase of ■ manufacturing;'appUaEces .'land.-other; supplies in the Old Country'; f'All'through.these operations, howeyer; ;sale.;.is predominant. "■■ Numerous co-operative'.societies ■ are . engaged _ in the work or .general," storekeepers,- 'operating in, Wellington,and.other'towns; but they are not the institutions^which--; stand but .cbnspicuoiisly." ia's 7 bulwiirksSbf: .the!:activities-'of 'burl farms. '-'At: tii<v present' time, are'.4C6.. dairy factories'' in -New- ;.these : 206.are cd-oporative.^;'.''■"■ ;- '''■■^ .'"- '\':'-r y.y.' Meat and Wool. .; : -},-^- : ; ..; } ;i : ;;'' -.-' '.' The 1 meat'industry'.'could scarcely "'have; come into.^exisieneo.without', at least' the .spirit of'cooperation, a numberf or those, meat works which .'are proprietary,: - tho' fanners are. thb'principal shareholder's.' .X^peratiybJm^ into existchco,:-in'present -times'; ;ias,<nas-;hap- ■ period in'ffespebt of.'the ;, ■'. Nelson, Gisborrie, .-'and ."Wairarapa:,.districts.' iTh©'- huge .su'/iis':'of, money^so','teadily. subscribed- for tb^'so■.works,- in this .yearof dear mbriey,.; skowj'the complete confidjmce which 'our!-farmers'-now ' have ;in ■ ~00-4>peration; Though it may sometimes be. true .that farmers, are, "bad" men of business," cb-' 'operative') ventures usually,, manage'- to /be good 'successes.. 1 ■ ■■:- ■'..-•'■•i.i." ■■■•+ ■<: , 00-operatiyo sheep shearing is a newer ar-j.rival!"-"It is likely to develop as a result of I increased labour,demands, and if more efficient, shearing result in* this "'mariner ; from; I'labour's pibgressj-no: one will-perhaps regret "tho littleextra bonefit.that the .shearers have, secured to themselves.;. Tho- mustering-. of neighbouring flocks to one shea'ring shod.'disposes,of, the necessity, of shearers' accbirinibdatidn:on..'all'Hhe _farms'. .Combination in this .mannerior,in'joining to secure a shesuring"gang"f6r.a serjes of sheds ■in- rotation should result 'in. better: skill/.ber. 'coming available, bettor.! classing,;'.:of.,'tho fleeces, and better;; quality' of' product.':'all round. The combination to'charter; a:fleet of vesselstfl convey the wool to Britain,' which dates from some years back, still flourishes youth/;; .'.-,?-.';. ;,;' : ):\ : r.-. ,'^';'., i .'