South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2311, 13 August 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1880.

A pai>ek of a most interesting nature was read a short time ago to the members of the Canterbury Corn Exchange at Christchurch by Mr Wm. Bateman. It has since been published in pamphlet form, and wc can recommend it as deserving the perusal and earnest consideration of New Zealand fanners generally. The title of the paper to which wc refer is “ Farmers Corn Exchanges : how utilised.” The subject is dealt with in a comprehensive and business like manner. Instead of following the example of the agricultural wet nurses who usually rush into prominence unasked, the author has sensibly refrained from intruding his own opinions. The arguments that ai-e used in demonstrating the usefulness of Farmers Corn Exchanges arc backed up by the unanswerable logic of facts and figures. Small as tire pamphlet is, it contains a vast amount of excellent and reliable information. It shows what farmers in other parts of the new world, situated in an exactly parallel position with the farmers of New Zealand, have been able to achieve for themselves, and it aims at setting the farmers of Canterbury on tbc right track to prosperity. The charm of this paper is that it is not directed in an antagonistic way at any particular branch of commerce, but that it aims at building together the muchdivided agricultural interest. So many futile attempts have been made to establish farmers’ organisations in New Zealand and the Australian colonies that the information collected by Mr Bateman is peculiarly valuable, as indicating the probable causes of failure. A careful examination of the facts which he submits shows very clearly that the majority of our Farmers’ Club promoters have been far too impetuous, too combative, and too sanguine. Advice or example they have generally treated with disdain; instead of working quietly without reference to adverse influences,they have aroused sleeping giants to oppose their infantile exertions ; and they have met the fate of adventurers who proceed to explore unknown regions without guide or compass.

One of the most valuable illustrations of fanners’ organisations which the author quotes is the co-operative bodyknown in America as the “ National Grangers, or Patrons of Husbandly.” Mr Bateman tells us that—

“ The Grange was started at Washington, in December, 1807, by two farmers, the object being mutual instruction and security from loss or injury. During the first year ten branch Granges were established, but so rapidly did they increase, and so popular did they become, that live years afterwards, at the close of 1872, there were 1100. The principal put forth by the National Grange was “ union,” by the strong and faithful ties of agriculture, with a mutual resolve to labor for the good of the order, the country, and mankind. The following is its motto, exemplifying the sound basis upon which it is founded : “ In essentials, unity ; in non-essentials, liberty ; in all things, charity.’ The special aims of the order, by which its posperity is ensured, are set jmt by an

American writer thus : “To devclopo a better and a higher manhood and womanhood among those constituting the order ;to enhance the comforts ami attractions of home, and strengthen the attachments to their pursuits ; to foster mutual understanding and co-operation ; to maintain inviolate the laws, and emulate each other in hastening the good time coming ; to reduce expenses both individually and co-operatively ; to buy less and produce more, in order to make their farms self-supporting ; to diversify crops, and crop no more than can be cultivated ; to condense the weight of exports, sell less in the bushel, and more on hoof and in fleece ; to systematise work and calculate intelligently on probabilities ; to discontinue the credit system, the mortgage system, and fashion system, and every other system tending to prodigally and bankruptcy ; to meet together, talk together, and, in general, act together for mutual preservation and advancement as associations may require ; to avoid litigation as much as possible by arbitration in the Grange ; to constantly strive to secure entire harmony, good-will, and vital brotherhood, and to make the order perpetual ; to endeavor to suppress personal, local, sectional, and national prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry, and all selfish ambition.” These arc high aims and tangible objects, worthy of our most serious attention, and we could not do better than try and emulate them. It aims to bring producers and consumers farmers and manufacturers,-together in a plain and social manner, and to rid them of the middlemen, whose charges and commissions seriously interfere with the growers’ profits ; besides always remembering that harmonious action is mutually advantageous, and that the happiness of each individual rests on the prosperity of the community as a whole. The order believes in the utmost facilities for carriage Ueing provided between the seaboard and the interior, that the life blood of commerce may flow freely, and, while not enemies to capital, (hey oppose the tyranny of monopolies, and urge that the, antagonism between capital and labor be removed by common eonsentand by enlightened statesmanship worthy of the present century. That while seeking the greatest good to the greatest number, to use all influence, legitimately, for good, to put down bribery, corruption and trickery ; and see that none but competent, faithful, and honest men are nominated to any office of trust. Further, that while protection is afforded the weak, restraint is put upon the strong. The Earl of Rosebery, as President of the Social Science Congress of Great Britain, in 1875, drew attention in his address to Ihc gigantic association in the United States of America, known as the ‘ Patrons of Husbandly,’ commonly called ‘ The (1 range,’ and characterised it as a great agricultural, cooperative independent union, with its 20,500 lodges, and its over 1,250,000 members; and that their

*’ enterprise and importance was first made manifest by the fact that the Californian grangers have their own fleet, and ship their corn direct to Liverpool, by which they saved 2,000.000 dols in freights in a .single year, their vessels bringing as relnrn cargoes tea, sugar, co I lee, si lies, and other commodities, which are retailed to members at cost, price.’ The great advantage the farmer has in being a member of the grange is that when l;e wishes to realise on Ids crop, he can ensure cash for it : whereas, if he sells in his own home market he must part with his produce to the speculator or middleman, who buys simply to resell at a prolit. H: (hey can. by their astuteness, realise a profit upon their investments they should not; he condemned as tradesmen. The middleman buys separately, but puts all his purchases together and whips them in one lot, and being his own disbursing agent, solely derives the profits of his labor. It is just in this manner that the Grange acts for (he fanner, with the dilVerence that the profit which goes into the middleman’s poekel, goes into the [locket of (he farmer instead.”

What has been done in America since ISO/ can be done in New Zealand, and especially in Canferbmy where the agriculturalis the prcclominantintcrest. But farmers must be aroused from their lethargy". They must sec the necessity of depending less on providence and the shipping companies, and more on their own efforts. If their clubs, or unions, or associations are to bo successful it must be by thorough combination, and by inviting the assistance, not of self-willed theorists who have some particular axe to grind or revenge to gratify’', but of cautious practical leaders who will anticipate contrary’ winds at first, and set their canvas accordingly’.