NORTH NEW ZEALAND COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AND THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1836, 12 April 1884, Page 2

NORTH NEW ZEALAND COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AND THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— During my vooent visit to Auckland I found a general feeling that something is wanted to make the country settlers more prosperous. All seemed pleased that the farmers aie starting a co-operative association. I was told that plumb sold in Auckland by farmeis at 2d to 3d per fli were sold retail at 5d and (id per Ib. A gentleman told me that he was in a shop when a man brought in a large box of plums ; they were bought by the shopman at 3d per It). My infoimant heard all, but took no notice, and having finished his selection, turned slowly round and said : Oh, you have some nice fruit here ; what is the price ? The reply was, 8d per lb, sir ; they are first-class fruit, and we cannot sell them for less I assure you. It may be very cheering for fruit growers to know that the shopkeeper gets cent par gent ill a few houvs upon a crop it takes the grower a yeai* to produce, and often only a paying crop once in two or three years. These, I hope, are extreme cases, but the facts were stated to me as if they were of common occurrence. There is little doubt but that the association, when fairly launched, and under the supervision of good and faithful officers, will be the best help to the farmers they have had for some years past. a.nd. it will teagh farmers the value of combination, for it is only by union that they can help the farming interests generally. This unity will also tend to destroy that feeling of distrust of each other, which has been far too prevalent amongst us. When things are at the worst they often mend, so let us hope for a good time coming, and with a kindly feeling for one anothei, rally in support qf qur association, and let us not forget that however assiduous our captain and officers may be, it will take time to get into good working orde. I may here say that Mr S. Vaile will very shortly publish his comment on the new i ailway tariff, and, as he told me, they wil} Rrqye. tha,£ vye " country settlers" are to pay all the '£156,099 extra whloh the Government expect to derive from the late alterations. That is helping the farming interests with a vengeance. If the farmers are to be kept down how can the Government expect to sell land, and how are the farmers to pay increased taxation ? Combination will help us in this also, and at the right #tne we iflusfc Igf, our M.H.R. know what is expected of theni in these matters. In conclusion, I assure " Cockatoo" there is not a grain of poetry in my composition. Ho is on a wrong scent— time and twopence thrown away. But there is a J.P. who, if he would show a good example and obey the laws. h,B has s^ofn j;o administer justly, would cu{; dw» flfld £ ri #l up 'a long Jine of furze on the public *oad' adjoining nis land and furze hedge. — I am, &c, «T. Newland. Ngaroto, Bth April, 1884. ,

"Do you think," asked a college student of a professor of theology, "that the lion and lam}} hayq ever yet Jain < down together ? "' '? I d^n't. fcn&w;' 1 answered the professorj.^bufcif^tbeyh.aye, I, have no doubt the lamb was misiing from that date,*? -^ - J Jj^t%T''^*Ah) fC^^,.;^\ ■.- Mr T,A. S|U'pl^»'unrgTo,4xf^Wt?4^^|m