FARMER'S CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1517, 25 March 1882, Page 3

FARMER'S CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

TO TIIK EDITOR. Sir, — The farming community of Waikato are indebted to you for the readiness you evince in circulating any information calculated to promote their interests, and the peisistcnt way in which you have advocated co-operation for various purposes. That ' • union is strength " is a maxim accepted by all, but that in no place is it lc&s acted upon than among the farmers of Waikato, the fate of the Central Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Cambridge Farmers' Club too plainly demonstrate. Whatever may have been the cause or causes that have tended to prevent unity in the past is> not what we at present wish to discuss, but rather to endeavour to devise means whereby we,asafarmuig community, may beable to compete with otherdistrictsinthe establishment of industries, which will enable us to turn to the most profitable account the advantages we possess, and the products of our soil. In America and in the southern portion of this colony the fanners are co-operating extensively, and with great success, and we in "Waikato have a great field for enterprise. The local demand for our hitherto chief products has become limited. Beef and mutton are no longer to be relied upon solely ; in fact, under our altered circumstances, are no longer remunerative, and attention must be given to the production of articles which are easily exported, and the supplying of ourselves with the necessaries we require. To do this successfully co-operation must be resorted to. If wheat growing is to become general a combination is necessary for the importation of machinery, implements, manures, &c, and the erection of flour mills, and if necessary for exporting what is not required for local consumption. If dairying is to be adopted, co-operation is equally needful. In America and elsewhere the system of cooperative dairying is found to work well. Surely in Waikato where we have such a fine climate, abundance of water, and a supply of all kinds of cattle food easily provided, and a railway in our midst, there should be no fear for the result of such an enterprise. Especially now that dairy produce can be delivered in England in such a condition aa to command a ready sale at a price to pay the producer. It is said that a factory suitable for 500 cows, with all necessary plant, can be erected for from £500 to £600, an amount easily raised if the matter were taken in hand, and it is a business in which almost every one could more or less share. Neither would there be any difficulty in selecting suitable sites. Take Te Awamutu for instance, with an unlimited supply of water, surrounded by good grazing farms, and a railway station within a few chains. It would be equally suitable for a flour mill, sugarbeet factory, or anything of the kind. Then, again, co-operation would be useful for protecting the farming interests from overcharges and imposition. At present, if we wish to sell anything, nothing can be done without the middleman, auctioneers, agents, and sub-agents, t some of whose charges are simply exorbitant. I have no wish to be invidious, but in some cases the commissions charged by our auctioneers are most ' excessive. Take the. so-called sheep fairs at Ohaupo, held oil the 'ordinary ' sale days, with no extra .expense . .incurred except a few catalogues, ' aa& yet the

seller has to pay 5 per cent., and yard fees in the bargain. Then the commission charged for selling horses is also most unreasonable, and by the time an auctioneer has passed an animal through his hands a few times, he has had more out of him than auyono else. Of course, every agent is entitled to fair remuneration, but if that does not satisfy him, then the farmers should combine and employ one of their own. It is to be hoped that the society just starting in the Cambridge district will be successful ; if so, doubtless others will follow. The field for combination is large and its requirements varied ; and if we, by our apathy and indifference fail to avail ourselves of the advantage which nature and science have placed within our reach, we may thank ourselves if we lag behind in the race of progress. — I am, &c, Te Awamutu.

A Boyle telegram states that the tails have been cut off 200 cattle on a grazing farm at Carrowguil. Over a hundred cattle have been houghed on a grazing farm at Kilmore. The owner had been previously warned that he would be visited by "Captain Moonlight" unless he obeyed the resolutions passed by the Land League and gave ixp his farm.

(For remainder of news see fourth page.)