NOTES BY A FARMER

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 126, 27 April 1897, Page 4

NOTES BY A FARMER

iH'i; LKADKUS. [Bv Canihih:]. Some people nay take exception to the statement that we have leaders in Waikato : but if th»y think for a moment, it n ust he admitted that we arc frequently led by the nose. When I say led by the nose, I mean that half-a-dozen men are allowed to do the thinking for US on public questions, and if any outsider essay< an opinion he is promptly told that he is wrong, as jo and so says differently. Then again, if any movement is on foot and the public is canvassed for support, at out the first question asked is whether so and so agrees with it. H he does, well and good, but if not, the matter is at an end, as we are quite unable to think independently for ourselves. No committee or executive is complete unless one or more of the six are included, and at any meeting of farmers these half-dozen do all the talking and the rest of us are dumb dogs. The fact is, that we have been led so long without saying a word that now it is almost impossible for us to get on our hind legs and siy a dozen words in public. We, however, make excellent critics when we get outside after the meeting is over, and if two or three of us have got together it is astonishing how difficult the thiid man finds it to get a word in edgeways, as the other two are as busy as their tongues can wag. And these men have probably sat for a couple of bonis l'stening to statements which they know fobe wrong, and although they wtuld no doubt like to, yet they find it iinrossibla to say a word.

It is quite painful to see a man at a meeting, whom it is apparent has something on his chest, as he sits waiting for an opportunity to say a word ; and when the time comes and he struggles to ids trembling legs he finds that he has forgotten the chief points of his discourse, and after one or two vain at'empts he subsides into his seat feeling like a fool and quite ccrtan he looks like one. To make matters worse one of our leaders will probably patrouisincly iusiuua'e that tlie last speaker d-d not understand what he was talking about, and as a cousequenco the man is heard in public no more. When it is all over the other dumb dogs add insult to injury by making fi.n of outsiders' poor attempt at a speech, while as a matter of fact they ought to do the reveisc, as he has shown more pluck than they themselves pessess. To be precise we have not an orator amoogst us, and to be just I do not think any of us pretends to be one ; but 1 feel convinced that with a little practice nine cut of ten of us have, as much ability that way as the half dozen who are called tipni to do all the public talking. The half dozen have got the lead of us, that's all, and none of the rest have enough self-confidence to challenge them for a place. Somethingshould be done to encourage the body of farmers to take part, in debate, as assuredly all the brains in Waikato are not wrapped Up in sixheads. If we once got a start there woulel be no stopping us, as I have often noticed that after alout the second public appearance of a man in debate, or as a vocalist, or in any public capacity for that matter, he is only too anxious to display his abilities. Such is vanity. I have not a word to say against any of our leaders, as I believe them all to he worthy men, but I think the rest tf us' ought to assert ourselves. There arc many things which if brought about would be of vast benefit to the district, but it is no use expecting any ef the tix to take action. Most likely they have already made tin effort, and failed long ago, and becaus i of their failure they would not like anyone else to succeed. We all know that co-operation was sadly mismanaged when tried years ago in Waikato, and the mere fact of any of the old 110mei to be associated with anything of the kind again would be sulficieut to blight the concern. Hut if co-operation pays farmers in other parts, w by should it not here ? One hears a whisper sometimes to the effect that certain persons get rebates allowed by firms which arc not granted to the bulk of their clients, and if there h any foundation for the charge it is our own fault, as if profits are large enough to permit anything of the kind, we should all participate.