CO-OPERATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 25

CO-OPERATION.

WHAT EUROPE IS DOING. AN AMERICAN INQUIRY. The recent appointment of an American Commission to investigate tho co-opera-tive organisation of agriculture in European countries is an event of the first importance to the British Empire. As tho "Westminster Gazette" points out, great as is the agricultural area, of the United States, flint which tho British peoples possess is greater still. If wo consider only the territories of the Dominions, their extent, including Newfoundland and Southern Rhodesia m the calculation, and excluding land unfit for human habitation, is (o that of tho United States as two to one. And the Empire's tropical dependencies cover a surface more than forty times as great as that of the United Slates, it is a fact established beyond dispute that English-speaking peoples are backward compared with all other equally civilised races' in the development of agriculture, the most essential of all indus■tries. America, whose need is less urgent, is about to set us an example by seeking to remedy the racial failing which slio shares with us.

To the Premier of Saskatchewan, the Hon. Walter Scott, belongs the credit of l>eing tho first among Imperial statesmen to recognise by a public act the importance of the American Commission from the Imperial point of view. To no ono could the initiative in the matter be moro appropriate than to tho holder of his office. Saskatchewan is a province of almost unlimited agricultural potentialities, and already, from a comparatively small part of her cultivable area, pours into tiro market an annual crop of wheat which now approaches a hundred million bushels. Before the Commission had become an American Government undertaking as it now is, Mr. Scott approached its organisers and secured tho appointment of two delegates to represent ■Saskatchewan, and thus by a. happy combination of circumstances the undertaking has something of an ' international character,

The "Westminster Gazette," in a lengthy article, says;—"lt is to lie hoped that both our own Government and tho Governments of the Dominions will fol-

low closely the proceedings of the Commission. It is certain that the lessons to bo learned will be of value in this country as well as in those more lately settled, for the Eastern States of America suffer just as we do from the tendency of their people to desert the country for the city. It is true, indeed, that we have near at hand an example of what agricultural organisation, carried out on the principles in vogue in almost every European country, may accomplish. Sir Horace Plunkett's twenty-four years of work in and for Ireland have already gone far to bring about a veritable revolution in the rural life of that country. As the pioneer of intelligent rural reform in the English-speaking world, and surrounded by obstacles peculiar to Ireland, Sir Horace has had difficulties to overcome which have 110 counterpart in Great .Britain. Both in England and' in Scotland there are agricultural organisation societies constructed on the model of, and working in a federation with, the celebrated Irish . Agricultural Organisation Society. They have both for some time enjoyed the support of the State accorded through tho Development Commission, which has only just been conceded after long delay and much discreditable opposition to their Irish parent. They are both doing admirable work and in the right way. Yet their activity has not yet succeeded in making much impression on the consoquences of long agricultural neglect. It cannot be doubted that whentliey hove made more progress the attention of the whole Empire will be drawn to the only known method of revitalising rural industry where it languishes, and stimulating it where its advance is too slow. In different conditions the most effectual means of applying those methods may vary, but tho main principles are everywhere the same. We possess in Sir Horace Plunkett the first living exponent of co-operation ns applied to the business which arises out of agriculture. He has shown us how to increase the farmer's profits by teaching him to organise his business; how, as the result of improved marketing, more intensive farming becomes profitable; and finally how the union of farmers for the advancement of their common interests leads on to the better social conditions which are necessary if the life of the country is to lie made sufficiently attractive to keep t.lie children of the fields to the industry of their inheritance. There is nothing more needed hv this country than tho rehabilitation of country life and the fuller development of the re-Murcej-of tho soil, It needs no rvrumeat to prove' that in wiiculturo

chiefly lies the future of the Empire." The American Commission, which senilis likely to'consist of moro than a hundred members, was to sail for Europe towards tile end of April. Its tour is to occupy three months. The various Continental countries where progressive and co-operating agricultural communities may be seen were first to bo visited. The Commissioners were to go to England when they had 1 concluded their task on the Continent, and will terminato their work of observation in Ireland in July. Their report will be awaited with deep interest. Whatever it-s results in the United States, it must arouse a new interest in scientific rural development in Great Britain, and stimulate thought on th,p same subject all over the Empire, and indeed'throughout tho world.