NOTES ON FARMERS AND FARMING. No. 3.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2094, 8 December 1885, Page 2

NOTES ON FARMERS AND FARMING. No. 3.

I hakdta know what word or sentence to make the key stone of this article ; aa coming between the brief description of what farming is ; tho intelligence of the man conducting the operations in connection with farming, and tlio brief announcement that farmers and their occupation ia this country are in a. state of woe, and the different causes which have, tended to produce this calamity. Is it that our farmers cannot comprehend their situation *■ business men .' that all business matters of an external and internal nature are a myth t<) them ? that their position as a substantial business portion of the community is not understood by them ? or the fact that they are the backbone and main ribs of this country i« altogether beyond tho conception? Are they asmeio ciphers in the commercial and political world of New Zealand ? Individually they comprehend and fully understand their position, both with respect to themselves, and to the commercial and political worldb of thii country. In the face of this fact, how is thotr commercial impotence to bo accounted for ? only in two ways, " want of unity among themselves." and "want of money. When I say unity do I not nfcrrow its meaning down to any local or provincial conception, but regard it in its broad sense of " national unity," tho union of farmers through >ut New Zealand banded toufftber for a common purpose, a common good, and to fight faithfully and solidly together against the common enemy "monopoly."' All will have heard or read the recitation of tho " Light Brigade." Well, in like manner have you not this monster of iniquity and usurpation facing you in front, attacking you on both sides, and taking you cowardly and cruolly in the rear. Its conception of justice, honesty, or fairness is merciless in the extreme. In fact no such words enter into the category of its dealings. Rather is it the pound of flesh, not with no blood, but the last drop that can bo drained from its ■victims. And "monopoly" exists not mono form only, but in shapes of which legion is the name. I will deal with some of its particular forms hereafter. The question now is, how to fight to conquor and overtluovv for gooJ and all this merciless tyrant. A- I have said above, there is a wav and only one way ; that of the whole community of fanners uniting into two or threo forms for their common safety. Farweis themselves and outsiders may lan^h at and probably scout the idea of unity, especially amongst fanners. The idea of " countiy bumpkin " comes m here, which idea does assert tho axiom that farmers cannot unite bocaust they never did ; which is another way of saying that farmers never did and do not now understand what unity of action amongst themselves means. That this idea hns somewhat of truth in it, as far as the conservative and slow comprehending mind of an English farmor is concerned, there is no doubt". But out here matters are different. Both the farmer and the circumstances surrounding him are upon s> new and developed basis. Here we supply not only home requirements, but export immense quantities of food to other countries. Thus the farmor is brought into more intimate relations with the people of other countries, particularly Lngland ; therefore it is the farmer's duty to inquire into the habits and requirements of tha nations he supplips. This expands his mind and developes his intelligence. And beyond this fact, colonial farmers are in s> way more active minded, resulting from the diffeient classes of men carrying on the profession of farming. We have farmers and what might o% called tradesmen farmers ; men of business capacity and training, and who should cleaily prcceive the why and the wherefore of matters, hence at once not only conceiye but be ready to put into action any feasible and well though out plan of ameliorating their position. But that the farmers of this colony do not unite for any purpose or common action is patent to all. The reason why they do not do this is difficult to comprehend. Is it that they wont unite ?or is it that ill favoured demon of jealously, either local or provincial, which steps in and authoritatively asserts, thus far and no farther shalt thougo? I cannot believe it, cannot for one moment conceivo that same sensible men should allow such a feeling to crush out all manliness, and consion all unity of action to the tomb, and submit to be down trodden by monopoly. Or is it that they think they "cannot unite, or act together in unity?" Tho "cannot" here smacks more of gross ignorance than of knowledge ; more of pride than of humility. The word "cannot, ' would have beon obliterated from all dictionaries could Napoleon the Firßt have had his way, So should it be in this case. Unite, unity, uuion, should be tho first hoait stirring words of the fanners using to emancipate themselves from their present serfdom. Nota bene, mark w ell that monopoly ib idleness and extortion, throwing up the industrious and self denying porti >n of the community. One portion of mankind preys upon the other. Farmers have but too long had their corns and toes crushed out of shape. They must now elect to tread upon other peeple's toes, or submit to the putting into practise of Darwin's theory of the "Survival of tbo fittest," or "progress is necessary to existence," "extinction" is the doom of retiogression. And the first step in the new era of progress mu«t bo a thorough ipplication of all farmers' minds to "thinking." I know it is no easy matter to set one's self to real hard practical thinking, but if you desire success it must be done. Is not the progress of this century but tho mighty giovvth of tho seeds and matured plants of thought? Can anything bo achieved without thought ? Unhesitatingly the answer is no. " Thought " must precede notion, then by all means I ask you to >>et yourselves earnestly to think. Don't let others think for you, do it yourselves, be self dependent, and let the first result bo a resolute determination to work together in unity, for without this nothing can bo done. You may grumble and comphin, but without avail. In fact it is a wa^te of timo and \ery foolish. Rather m ike up your minds to some purpose, to improve what is nothing more or less than a slavish condition degrading under a socalled national freedom. You are at the beck and call of monopoly, which must cut into you lika tha chains of a felon, and yon submit iv all quietness and graciousness to bo ground down, insulted and ultimately crushed out of existence for another to take your place and go through the same experience. Would that I could rouse you up to even the most primitive idea of " self dependence " and " self help " instead of bowing dow n your heads to the l?ro<s degrading thraldom which encloses you on every eide. Quit yourselves like men, not like abject slaves. Ut Prosim.