PROPOSED WAIKATO FARMER'S CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1517, 25 March 1882, Page 2

PROPOSED WAIKATO FARMER'S CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a farmer's co-operative association for Waikato was held at Camp's Tamahere Hotel, on Thursday evening. Aaut 30 gentleman were present, the .agricultural interest being largely represented. Mr J. J.'Barugh having been voted to the chair called upon the honorary secretary, Mr W. A, Graham, to state the purpose for which they had met together. <* Mr W. A. Graham explained that at a former meeting of the promoters, a committee had been formed to canvass the district, and it was decided to wtohold from circulation the prospectyuS-^hich had been prepared, until an opportunity had been afforded them for receiving v any suggestions which might be offered at another meeting. That meeting had been called for the previous Thursday, but owing to his absence from the district, it had been decided to adjourn it to that evening. The committee had been fairly successful in obtaining promises of support. So far as his own experience had gone he believed that there was a very general expression of opinion throughout the district that such an association as that proposed was very desirable, and the promises of support were very encouraging. In Auckland several prominent men had promised to take shares, but as the matter was new they would like to have a little further time to , consider it. He had received a telegram from Mr B. Tonks, one of the ' gentlemen who had promised assistance, stating that they would like to have about a fortnight to mature their plans, but desired the promoters to submit resolutions for their consideration. With regard to the question of starting a flour mill, he read a communication from Messrs Hally Bros., Cambridge, offering to dispose of their mill and property to the association, and to take shares in part payment. The chairman remarked with reference to Messrs Hally's letter that the sum named was a great deal larger than the promoters had reckoned upon spending in the erection of a mill. Mr W. A. Graham said the letter merely contained an offer, which they could consider. The object of the meeting was to secure a free and full disj cussion upon all points of the scheme. The chairman said he was, compara* tively, a stranger in the district, and he would like to hear the views of the older settlers. Mr K. Hid said the outside public desired some definite information on the subject of the objects of the association. At present they were quite in ignorance upon this point. Mr W. A. Graham read extracts from the draft prospectus as follows :—: — This Association is promoted to supply a want in Waikato — to stimulate co-operationand combination amongst the Waikato farming community, upon the principle that unity gives strength and co-operation affords a. guarantee for mutual benefit, the" best value for produca, and most economical method of working crops, or other farming operations. The experiments ms.de during the past season have proved sufficiently satisfactory to warrant the opinion that Waikato lands will grow a superior quality of Wheat, Oats, Barley, or other Grain, and yield a. very satisfactory average. The Waikato holdings being freehold, are owned foi the most part by settlers who have not the requisite Plant for undertaking the growing of Grain crops, and by many who do not feel disposed to risk the necessary capital thcmsclmes, but who would doubtless be most willing to place portions of their farms at the disposal of the Associationcither at a fixed rental, or percentage of the grain yield as a rent equiualent~for the purpose of grain growing ; and thereby securing to the Association ample grain lands to operate upon on a large scale. The directors of the Association, after carefully considering the matter, have resolved upon erecting a. flour mill, and having been guaranteed by the faimers in the vicinity 600 acres of wheat per annum being sown, they have fked upon a suitable site. The VVaikato at present docs not grow nearly sufficient grain to supply its local requirements, and from the fact that its population is constantly increasing, and with the rich prospects and magnitude ot the Te Aroha Goldfields in view, a large demand for the products of the Mill may confidently be expected. The Association also anticipate making a considerabc profit from the lands which they hire from the settlers for Grain purposes, after paying the rental or perccnlage to the freeholder for the use of his land. And as the Association intend acting as far as they can upon co-operative principles, utilising as far as possible the available Plant already in possession of the Farmers and Contractors in Waikato, the Association will not require at the outset to purchase evtra Plant. And, therefore, the Directors feel confident of being able, after providing liberally for all claims against the Association, and paying the farmer the highest market price for his Grain, to have sufficient surplus to pay handsome dividends to the Shareholders. The benefit to small Settlers taking Shares will be very great, as they will secure a certain market for their Grain, and participate in the profits of the Association ; besides being able to crop their own Farms with the least possible outlay and risk to themselves. This prospectus had been drawn up at the first meeting, but it was afterwards decided to ascertain the feeling of the settlers before publishing it. Their object was to stimulate and encourage the farming industry. The grain feature was put forward as one of the main objects, because it was felt that there was a local demand. Aftei wards they could, of course, devote themselves to the fostering of other industries, such as cheese factories, for instance, but at the outset it was felt that they should take up that product for which a fair market existed. To this end then the promoters considered that the building of suitable granaries was an important step. At present the grain grower had either to allow his grain to remain in stack, or, if he threshed it he was obliged to rush it on the market in order to avoid making a loss. If granaries were erected, the farmer need not then necessarily force his grain upon the market. He would, however, have something tangible to offer as a security for advances. Small farmers could not, as a rule, afford to put up granaries, but they would not grudge to pay a fee for the safe storage of their grain, and these fees would, he thought, pay interest on the outlay incurred. As it grew, the association would stimulate other industries, and so advance the interests of the district at large. The chairman said it had been shown to him that the grain grown in the district at present was not sufficient to satisfy the local demand, notwithstanding which the farmers could not get a fair price for what they did grow. It was, therefore, the wish of some to be able to grind their own corn, and place the flour on the market. So far as he understood it, that was one of the first objects contemplated by the promoters. Many things would follow, things which had been suggested to him by some of the most influential men in the district. Mr Vialou did not yet clearly understand the objects of the association. So far as he could see, there was not much co-operation in it. An association of this kind ought to study the interests of all classes, but he thought it hardly touched the small farrrier. New settlers would, he thought, get very little benefit out of it, unless it provided the plant necessary to the successful growing of crops, plant which small farmers could not get without great expense. He thought the best thing to be; do^vwas for the committee to draw up another prospectus. , He thought the? milk industry should receive some attention. Grain growing, after all, was, only, engaged in by the larger farmers, and they should hold out inducements to all classes. . Mr W. A. Graham said the association was to be congratulated upon the fact that the present meeting was so largely Attended,, and that sbrffitiejf, interest* was , apparently taken in the institution; s'Most lt |JfegB must have smaUijeginmngo. /The $>»l&aim of ; the, promptew-ityw to. advance 'the 'interest of tbe.iwraerejfon^and

large. He quite agreed that a committee should bo formed to draw up a full and ample prospectus, but the promoters believed that co-operation with the contractors already in the district would be preferable to working against them. These men had offered to take shares in the concern, and the production of a larger quantity of grain would induce .(them to put forth increased efforts to meet the requirements of farmers, their profits arising out .of the growth of the industry. The object of the association was not to compete against themselves, but against outsiders. He was fully convinced that the Waikato could produce equally good, if not better grain than the South, and at the same price. The prospectus read had not been issued, because they hoped to get further ideas put into it.S Regarding what Mr Vialou had said, their idea was to make it possible for the farmer Nvho grew 10 acres of wheat to put it in the ground and harvest it at the game rate as would be paid by the farmer who produced 100 acres. This could only be done by offering inducements tp contractors to tender for a large quantity of work. Mr Vialou considered that this should be clearly shown in the prospectus. Captain Runciman asked if, assuming he would become a member of the association, he was to understand that the association would put in his crops and reap them, leaving him nothing to find but the land. The chairman said the present meeting was called to discuss the matter, and remove all the difficulties if possible. It was not the intention of the association to force anything upon the members. Mr K. Hill said some of his friends sitting near him, who were too diffident to speak themselves, had made some suggestions which he would lay before the meeting. He thought it would be a great mistake for an association of this kind to go into any scheme of leasing land for cropping, but it would be very desirable to make contracts with people who had the plant to put in the crops or take them out. The building of proper and sv\bstantial granaries, which would be rat-proof and otherwise secure, would be a great advantage. Leasing land would be more expensive than profitable. With regard to the milling business, they thought that by putting the wheat into granaries the farmers would be able to get the highest price in the market for it. The association ought not to enter into competition with private enterprise. If they adopted the mill scheme they would leave their legitimate business and become " millers. The chairman said the idea was only "to lease the land for one crop, and then only in case there was not sufficient sown for the requirements of the mill. But this was merely put forward as a suggestion. Mr W. A. Graham said the leasing proposal simply meant this : that in cases where a piece of land lay between two fields of wheat, the association would, failing the owner undertaking it himself, put the land in crop, giving a fixed rental for it. In regard to the mill project, he considered the association had a perfect right to go into the business without incurring the risk of being blamed for opposing private enterprise. There was one thing which they should bear in mind, and it was this : it had not been settled which was the kind of wheat best adapted for the Waikato, and they could not prove this with certainty until they had a mill of their own. Millers at present ground what they could get cheapest. Besides, the mill would be a great assistance to the settlers in the way of gristing. Capt. Rimciman said after giving the matter some little thought he felt that the community was much indebted to those gentlemen who had originatedtheproject. He however, must take exception to some of their proposals. The leasing scheme was too gigantic altogether to be undertaken by the association. He did not think there were any proprietors who had land fitto grow wheat, who would not grow it if its production wereprofitable. It would be an admirable thing if the association could provide the necessary machinery. The mill might be veryjwell, but they ought to remember that they would have to dispose of their flour to a class of people amongst which the proportion of failures was very large. He referred to storekeepers. The Chairman : I thought that class usually got rich (a laugh.) Capt. Runciman did not think so. If the association confined its operations to procuring machinery and establishing granaries it would do good service. Cheese factories should also be fosteied. He had, himself, been prepaiing a prospectus for a cheese factory to lay before the settlers. He had no doubt that the quantity of milk necessary would be forthcoming, but they wanted the capital to erect the buildings and purchase plant. Here the association had a field open to it. He had no faith in the proposal to lease lands, as too great a l'isk would be incurred. Mr Camp thought that was a matter which might well be left in the hands of the directors. Mr John Runciman thought the association a step in the right direction. He objected to the leasing scheme. He would trust no body of men to farm all sorts of land. They were all more or less experimental farmers in Waikato. Speaking of the proposal to let the ploughing by general contiact, he considered that it would be unsatisfactory, as the work would not be done equally well everywhere. Men used to ploughing light land would not make good work on other discriptions of soil, and vice vena. He related some of his own experiences in proof of this. He was greatly in favor of the erection of grain stores, but he disapproved of the mill project. Mr Main : But the granaries will not find us a market. The chairman : And you think the mill would. Mr Main : I think it might. Mr W. A.. Graham thought if flour mills paid when so little grain was grown in the district they ought to pay when the industry assumed large proportions. Mr John Runciman said in order that something practical might result he would move " that the committee be increased by the addition of the names of Messrs Vialou, and Hill, and Capt. Runciman, and that a date be fixed for a meeting of the committee, at which to arrange a prospectus to place before a general meeting on a day to be advertised. This was seconded by Mr J. J. Smith, and carried unanimously. It was agreed that the lion, secretary write to Messrs Hally, informing them that their letter would" be laid before the association when formed, and requesting them to keep their offer open for a fortnight. This was all the business, and after the customary compliment had been paid the chair the meeting terminated.

The committee afterwards met and arranged to meet on Wednesday next. Messrs Barugh, Main, S. Steele, John Runciman, Vialou, Hill, and Capt. Runciman, with the hon. secretary, were appointed a sub-commiteee to meet on Monday to prepare proposals to lay before the general committee.

The first American flag used by citizens of California is still in existence. The people made it themselves, and had to buy a seaman's Bhirt in order to get the blue