ORGANISATION AMONG FARMERS.

Southland Times, Issue 1247, 6 May 1870, Page 3

ORGANISATION AMONG FARMERS.

Experience has taught that concentrated effort, properly directed, is the surest road to success in any legitimate calling a man may adopt. In nearly every trade or profession except that of the agriculturist, we see that each and every member of that trade or profession co-operates with his fellows either to advance the spread of the particular know* ledge required in his profession to the highest degree that.it can attain, or in the case of trades, to unite together in establishing a certain arbitrary coda of laws to regulate and control the prices to be paid for their labor, or the profits to be placed on the commodities that pass through their hands. Each manages, in some way or another, to get a voice in the control not only of their own particular calling, but also in controlling and shaping the laws of the country to suit their own desires and convenience. Perhaps no class of men are so much in need of being thoroughly co-operative with each other as farmers ; and were they brought to see the advantages that would result from organising, they would endeavor to imitate the example set them by other classes. a The greatest obstacle in the way is, that the farmers do not know their own interests. Whether the object be to assist each other in the way of getting infor* mation regarding the best stock, seeds, implements, machinery, or the means of obtaining laborers ; statistics that will enable them to form a correct idea of the value of their grain and produce, and in a measure control the markets, and save themselves from the unprofitable direction of their labors, in growing an article that they must sell for less than cost of production ; in controlling the action of the Legislature so as to prevent their being unduly taxed in order to enable the nonproducing class, office-holders especially, to enjoy immunity from taxation at the expense of heavier taxes on their lands and incomes, or to resist class legislation generally; work must be done and paid for, and they must, like other classes, be able and willing to give pecuniary support to their own organisation ; otherwise they must be content to remain at the mercy of those who are able and willing to control them. Legislatures are supposed to do business for the good of the country as a whole, but unfortunately they do not ; and as they are controlled chienyby individuals, corporations, and combinations, the farmers, in order to protect themselves, hare but to co-operate with one another in forming an organisation of their own. And, as they virtually control the legislative action of the country, seeing they are the most numerous as a class, and own the principal interest in the {soil which gives them the right to. vote to elect the legislature, they have but to elect to the constituencies controlled by them such men only as belong to their own class, and can be depended onto see to it that the country is governed at an expense commensurate with its means, seeing that of necessity the whole expenses of government must come out of the soil and its productions.— jFA« ~ Canada Farmer.