SOUTHLAND FARMERS ASSOCIATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1564, 16 April 1872, Page 3

SOUTHLAND FARME RS ASSOCIATION.

» (to the editor of the times.) Sir, — -When you have room to spare in your columns, would you kindly publish the following letter — which is written in the earnest hope that it may, in however small a decree, influence the farmers to enquire further into the subject disCUSS^U. That Southland deserves great credit for her high-class annual agricultural exhibitions, does not lessen the necessity for a thorough farmers' combination ; it cannot be said that these exhibitions are the result of such. It is a deplorable truth that fanners aa a class are the last to recognise the importance of class associations. One reason why this should be, is, I suppose, the comparative isolation in which individuals of the class live, and the infrequency of their opportunities for social couverse. In these circumstances, even whea the importance of •forming associatious is perceived, the trouble — great when compared with that required in closely packed communities — involved in their formation, causes the process to be difficult and slow. Each of twenty farmers in a district may wish twenty times a year that he had the opportunity of communicating his ideas to his fellows collectively, but the ' wish remains unrealised because no one thinks it his duty to set to work towards the organisation of a society ; and it may happen that when one does institute proceedings, he is met with approving smiles and speeches, but allowed to work on with neither substantial sympathy nor assistance to back him. Of course, if he be not more than ordinarily endowed with patience and perseverance, he gets discouraged and gives up the occupation in disgust. Of the Southland farmers I think it might safely be assu aed that they, without exception, cultivate the habit of newspaper reading. If so, then, apart from the circumstance that many of them are men of superior education and large experience, no one of them can be ignorant of the great importance now attached to agricultural clubs throughout the British and American world. Assuming then that they not only know of the estimation in which these- societies are now almost universally held, but intelligently comprehend their nature and value, the assumption may hardly be regarded as a high compliment, seeing that there are only two half-asleep farmers' clubs in the" district. What construction could be put on such a combination of knowledge and apathy, other than tha^t it amounts to deliberate indifference on the part of those concerned to their own welfare ? It may be strange, nevertheless it is true, that there may be found more esprit de corps among the Post-office corner lads than among the Southland farmers. Who has not observed that laboring men sometimes — at a time when perhaps they may not have a sixpence to boast of — refuse to hire for wages lower than that which they consider the standard wage of the class they beloag to ; and that neighboring farmers may be found so indifferent , to each other's movements and welfare as to be ignorant of the rate of wage each is paying his harvesters. Although the two clubs referred to are not bo well supported as they ought to

be, they must be doing some good pervice. I can point to tho railway arrangements now in force, as a benefit that one of them— the Winton Farmers' Clvb — was greatly iustrumental in conferring, directh/ " on lne North af! districts, and, by increasing the popularity of the r.iilway, in-Hrcctly upon the S.mthl.ind district at large. In passing. I may n )tj that this benefit was forced upon Fnvcrcirgill — ninny of whose inhabitants, of whom better things might have bt s en expected, actually set their facos against an arr.mgmnent wheivby increased inducement to frequent the city was held ! out to the rural population — very bad taste on the part of the Fnverearaillifces, to say the least of it, but affording an example of the power in the hands of the " country cousins " when they choose to exert themselves. Besides occupying too much of your space, I think it would be superfluous in me to point out in detail the good likely to accrue from institutions of the kind in question. I will therefore only remark that if the farmers of each district were to meet in a room once a month or so, if only to shake hands and have a conversational interchange of ideas, great good would be the result. My idea in reference to the organisation of an agricultural association here is, that all the farmers of the Southland District should resolve themselves into the " Southland Farmers' Club," having its middle, northern, eastern, and western divisions, with Winton, Elbow, Invercargill, Mataura, and Riverton respectively as centres ; that each division should have its clubroom, and periodical meetings for the promotion of agricultural knowledge, and the consideration of farming interests generally ; and that half-yearly or yearly meetings of the whole club should be held at Invercargill, or at the different divisional centres alternately. No doubt the real work of forming and keeping up such an association, would, as is usual in such cases, devolve upon a few, doubtless however that few could be found, if only some one would gi.ve the thing a start. Although, when a public undertaking is carried on to a successful issue, it is commonly as the result of the untiring exertions of a few enthusiastic individuals, it does not I necessarily follow that commonly means rigidly. I appeal to the farmers of Southland to do an uncommon thing, viz., that if a club of the kind indicated is started, each farmer will consider it his own particular business — not somebody else's — to support it to his utmost. — I am, &c, i Ceeeal. 10th April, 1872. I