FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2369, 20 October 1880, Page 2

FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Mr William Bateman of Christchurch addressed a meeting of settlers and others in the Road Board Office Geraldine on Monday evening on the “ Advantages of Co-operation.” Mr Postlethwaite presided. The Chairman in his introductory remarks, instanced as showing the necessity for a farmers’ Association, the fact that this year the farmers on the Seadown estate sold some 60,000 bushels of oats at Is per bushel to a Christchurch merchant. This gentleman shipped them to England, where they realised 2s sjd neat. By this transaction the farmers alluded to have lost £SOOO. This money would have gone into the pockets of the producers instead, had they been members of an association such as was projected. After alluding to the objects of the promoters be introduced Mr Bateman.

The lecturer, who was received with enthusiasm, said he should deal with the broad principle of co-operation. The co-operative movement initiated in Timaru had for its object the advancement of the agricultural interest, by enabling farmers to do for themselves the work which was at present entrusted to others, A committee had been formed with this object, and it was at their instigation that he appeared before them. The principle of co-operation was of great imporlance, as it affected their vested interests very materially. Progression was the sharp-edged tool which they had to employ in order to compete witli their neighbors. The modern farmer had to abandon old-fashioned prejudices and take advantage of economic and scientific innovations. He thought the farmeis of K w Zealand had suffered hitherto by scarcely exhibiting sufficient alacrity in emuJating the organisations of agriculturists in other parts of the world. Hitherto the attempt to form farmers’ clubs for a mutual exchange of ideas, and other progressive matters had been of such a crude nature that these clubs were for the most part no more than a mere name. Those in New Zealand who are deeply interested in what is termed productive industry should not confound it with what was called “ Protection to native industry.” A primary object of co-operative associations was to reduce the cost of production. Productive industry, as they were aware, was the supporter of all classes of the community, and necessary to the maintenance of the Government of nations. They were all aware, that while production has rapidly increased by the innovation of improved appliances rendering labor more effectual and less costly, yet strange to say no corresponding means has been accepted or acted upon for the purpose of avoiding what is at present called “ business,” or what might be more properly denominated “ trafficking,” It was therefore, with a view of remedying the present general method of doing business that the principles of co-operation had become fixed. One of the fundamental ones was to give tenpencethe purchasing power of one shilling. The chief aim was to establish an association of producers to do its own work, and to divide its own profits. It was fairly estimated that one-fourth of the earnings of the poorer classes of the community, no matter whether residing in cities or in country districts, w r as absorbed by the profits of the retail dealers chiefly in what the consumers require as the ordinary necessaries of life. Could it be wondered at that money did not go so far as it ought ? The producer starved while the speculators in produce grew rich. Yet the latter did nothing that the producers could not do, as an associated body. The lecturer traced the history of the Pioneer Co-operative Association formed by a dozen humble weavers in 1844, which in 1879 comprised 10,000 members with £293,053 share capital and sold in that year goods to the value of £298,079. At the present time in the United Kingdom the value of the working men’s stores was estimated to be over £5,000,000 of share capital; and they were said to turn over annually about £14,000,000 sterling. Eeferring

to the price of grain as compared with, which the farmer had to pay for breadstuffs in a manufactured state he pointed out that in the local markets wheat was valued at 4s per bushel and flour at £ll per ton, while in South Australia the prices were respectively 4s 2d per bushel and £8 15s per ton. It was clear from this that consumers were handicapcd by a combination of interests which were more voracious for profit than those in theadjacent colonier. With respect to oatmeal the argument might be applied with still greater force. The retail price of oats had fallen lately from 4d to 3d per lb, while in the United Kingdom where oats were scarce and dear Id per lb is considered a famine price for oatmeal. Mr Bateman concluded as follows : —These cases have been given in confirmation of the broad principle enunciated in this address, and you cannot possibly improve your condition, unless the principles of economics are accepted and vigorously acted npon. While all these and other large profits are paid by you, you can get no more, under such circumstances, for the outcome of your productions; say, for example, on the article of wheat, you can get no more than your friends across the water can, although your flour is more costly to you by fully two pounds per ton ! And hence it follows that if you pay for your general requirements at such fabulously high rates, your own expenses of production are so much the more costly, and as a consequent result, yield you less profit. The praiseworthy examples arising out of co-operation are now recommended to you on this principle ; that whatever is beneficial for the individual is good for the whole ; and whatever is good for the whole is good for the nation. If the principle of tiirift is more generally inculcated into the ra n’s of the present and future generations, it would be the most salutary thing which you can possibly introduce,not only to strengthen your position as producers and consumers but to keep an impotent and spendthrift Government in check ; and until some such change of fashion takes place, you may expect nothing but barriers of the most formidable kind to come between you and your prosperity. In thanking you, gentlemen, for your attendance, and for the patient way in which you have listened to my address upon the general advantages to be derived from co-operative associations, it will not be amiss on my pait to finally urge upon you the absolute necessity there exists for you at this critical juncture of your affairs, as belonging to the productive industry, to amalgamate in one common and highly commendable cause, and to accept the powerful principles of co-operation as the course open to you. Should you think it incumbent upon you to carry this out in an effectual manner, kindly accept my assurance that no one will be more gratified than I shall be in learning that you have done so. . y . . .. - .. , - -

At the termination of the lecture Mr Bateman was warmly applauded. The proceedings terminated with votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman. Mr Bateman delivered an address on “ Co-operation” to a large assemblage at the Crown Hotel last evening, Mr Talbot presided, and at the conclusion of the address, which was attentively listened to, the chairman and lecturer received unanimous votes of thanks.