CO-OPEEATIVE AGRICULTURE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 300, 21 December 1870, Page 4

CO-OPEEATIVE AGRICULTURE.

(From the Reformer.) Is the title of a book by William Pare, lately issued and published by Longmans aud Co. The book is a solution of the hind question, as exemplified in the history of the Kalahine Co-opeiative Agricultural Association, in the Comity Clare. The book is well worthy of the attention of the readers of The Reformer . They will find it both interesting and instructive — interesting because it deals with an industrial theory ef considerable importance, and instructive because it supplies facts, and helps us to form a comparison between the diffeient ways which have yet been attempted of developing the co-opemtive principle. In the year 1831 a co-operative agricultural society — which forms the substance of Mr. -Pa re's 800k — was established by Mr. Vaudeieur of Ralabine who, shocked at the condition of the poor peasantry, resolved to apply to his estate the principles of the late Robert Owen. To this end, Mr. Vandeleurgave up 600 acres of land to the Co-operative Agricultnral Society, for which be provided all the requisite buildings, machinery plant and live-stock. The rent aud interest on the capital were also advanced by him, amounting in all to about £900 a jear. The members of the society were the actual cultivators of the soil, aud the}' formed a little settlement, living in a cluster of cottages, aud had a common table. The "whole was managed by a committee, who met every evening, and appointed to each member his work for the eueuing day, which was written on a slate and hung up in the public room. The members paid their rent and their interest on the debt in kind, being bound to furnish to Mr. Vandeleur every year £900 worth of wheat, barley, oats, pork, beef, and mutton. After this was paid they had the remainder of the produce for themselves. Each man drew from the common fund for his labor, a weekly sum equivalent to ihe rate of wages paid in ihe district, and afterwards he had his share of the surplus. Iv 1832 the gross receipts from the farm amounted to £1700. From this had to be deducted £900 for reat, and about £11 per week for payment of the labor of the members, the remainder being divided. The moral effect of this plan was excellent. The change from hovels to decent cottages, the prohibition of all spirituous liquors, I prudent habits, aud prospect of comfortable living and good wages, all had their natural results lor good. The principle of the Ritlahiiie Association was the true 00-optrative principle ;• that is to sr.y, every member was a co-operator, and learned to take an interest in the laud which he tilled wholly distinct from the pecuniary result of the system. It is deeply to be regretted that the plau was in existence too short a- time to give it a fair trial and extend its example in the country, for at the expiration of two years, its founder having ruined himself by gambling, was compelled to quit the couulrj', aud has never been heard of since. The society was a great success for two years, and the system upon which it was coniucted occupies, as we have already said, about two-thirds of Mi. Pare's book. The remainder contains general inflections, aud a brief account of oilier co-operative experiments in England, Get ninny, aud America. We rejoice to thiuk that co-oper«itive agriculture is i.ow occupying ihe minds ol many influential gentlemen which will, doubtless lead to its adoption.