THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1880. THE FARMING INTEREST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2113, 1 December 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1880. THE FARMING INTEREST.

The letter written by Mr. Bradshaw to the “Press” newspaper, which we republish in to-day’s issue, turns the attention of the public at large to a question of great importance to the colony. It points out that a movement is taking place in South Canterbury to secure a solid co-operation amongst farmers for the improvement of the producing and consuming interest in Now Zealand. It goes on to say that the development of trade during the last fifty years has, in all cases, leant towards co-operation in one form or another, the tendency of the age, owing to competition, being to economise all profits as between producer and consumer; that this tendency promotes general prosperity, giving the greatest possible advantage to producer

and consumer, and that a society which can make advantageous arrangements for its members ceuld make even better terms should its operations become more extended. Although the idea is not a new one, there can be no doubt that a society such as has been started would, if successful, confer a great benefit on the agricultural interest, particularly on those small farmers whose operations are not sufficiently extended to enable them to work with any large amount of freedom. Mr Bradshaw says that probably the co-operative movement has had its origin in South Canterbury, because in that district was to be found the greatest necessity for it, produce, as a rule, being quoted lower in Timaru than in either Christchurch or Dunedin, owing to deduction being made for transit charges. It will, however, be evident that such an institution would bo of the greatest value to farmers all over the country, although a partial attempt already has not been successful. The bulk of the farmers have not hitherto been in the same position as the bulk of the squatters. The latter have been enabled, owing to their more extended operations, to take direct advantage ! of the change of the markets in the Old Country, whereas the small farmers have been, more or less, at the mercy of the middle men, whose lines may be said, speaking generally, to have fallen in pleasant and profitable places. This may, perhaps, be said to have been unavoidable in cases when advances on crops yet ungathered were necessary to the farmer not in possession of sufficient capital, but in cases where the farmer’s head has been well above water, he has been nearly in as bad a case, for any direct dealing with a foreign market has been impossible, because of the smallness of his operations and the profits of the crop have in too many cases gone into the pocket of the cornfactor. A Farmers’ Co-operative Association would remedy much of the evil above alluded to, and the small agriculturist would practically be placed in almost as good a position as the large one, at least as far as disposing of his crop is •oncemed.

There is another matter which might well engage the attention of farmers in general, namely, the formation of a Department of Agriculture, if snch could be founded on economical principles. In America such a department exists, its functions being to prepare agricultural statistics and publish interim reports of the prospects of the crops throughout the States. The information is gained from the Board of Agriculture that exists in each State. The statistics published by the central department would be an excellent guide as to the quantity of land laid down in the various cereals, and as to the condition of the crops, to which might he added data as to the present state and future prospects of the English markets. In fact, such reports would he a complete vade mecum to the farmer, and be an invaluable aid to his operations Our present annual statistics are merely retrospective. The American department, besides, does not confine itself to the publishing of statistics. It furnishes the Boards in the various States with the latest and most reliable information about agricultural improvements, and even with samples of new seeds which have been proved to be the best suited for raising good crops in various climates and in various soils. The department, says a contemporary, is worked very cheaply, becanse the great principle of co-operation is practised. The Boards of Agriculture in each of the States all work cordially with it for the common good, and it returns to them even more than they bestow. We are aware that strict economy is the order of the day, and indeed absolutely necessary under present circumstances, but it may fairly be open to question whether some central organisation might not, at a small coat, realise advantages more than repaying the outlay.