WHY DANISH FARMERS CAN CO-OPERATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1924, Page 4

WHY DANISH FARMERS CAN CO-OPERATE.

(F,. F. Kasterhrook ill “Daily Mail” ) Kveryone will naturally endoi.'o the Minisiter of Agriculture's sentiments about producing many of these agricultural commodities at home which we now buy abroad, especially "hen it is realised that we send approximately iw,out of the country every year for pig meat alone. There are some who ascribe ibis In the fact that the Danes have learnt to co-operate and we have not, and pass judgment on the intelligence of tile British farming industry ai rnrilii'.gly. But before i oMilemuiug our farmers, it i-, only fair to eomnare tic conditions iii the two is -motive 1-011111 ries. Tho outstanding difference is that the Danish problem is simply to collect agricultural nrodme and export it. a comparatively simple matter. But in Britain we do not export such produce. aod therefore decentralisation imtf problem, an immensely more difficult and complicated process fur a (oiuiii.v six limes a. large. In Denmark in-operation is prarlicdly compulsory, and it the societies rein--- a man’s guilds because they are unsuitable be lias no other market, therefore be | erforce produces only the I—i. Brin-h societies have to be careful le-t they offend their members and lose (heir trade. in this i mint rv a small dealer is alwavs near who will buy indifferent -mil' at a. n or price, knowing that he rail (ii-po-c el' il locally. Thus the British ei-operative societies are robbed of their two liie.t efficient weapon-- the loyally of ticii- members and the guarantee of lugh puaiitv goon-.

Dini-b farmers are mostly small-H-ale peasant proprietors "ho individually | rodm■:■ >licit small quantities that a collvcliv.' system of marketing is essential, but the big Kngli-h larnis am! the national temperament tend to produce a robti.-f spirit of independence that doe.- not take kindly to a. compi:l-

s.n-v sy-teiu of any kind !,n .fly, the nverng ■ Danish farmer i. In j* mor than tin* sivor

ago Kagii-ii larm.-r. lie probably works ! lio.'er hours limit any other man in any (ulii'o* industry and ne'e! dream- of a day elf. This is not a criticism ~f the Engli-h farmer: it is merely t’m ,i:ileiiioMi of a fact that must be considered in looking for the secret of Banish agrieultill'al success.

When outside labour is employed mi Danish holdings it can be obtained at very low rate- lower even than in England, ami 1 know personally of cases whore a labourer is working twelve and fourteen hours a day for tho English eqaivolent (.( (. lisiderabl.v !•'•*« than a pound a week.