The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume 2641, Issue 2641, 15 June 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1889.

We throw our heartiest sympathies into the movement set on foot in Cambridge to establish a Farmers' Club. We have so frequently bent our efforts in the direction of influencing the agriculturists amongst us to form a well-organised combination for the promotion sinu protection of their own interests, that no one can doubt the pleasure with which we welcome the beginning now made towards that end, or the sincerity with which we pray for its success. Although it has often tilled us with despair to see the inexcusable apathy betrayed by the Waikato farmers, indifference so great that this splendid district has been reproached as being one of the most backward and least endowed with enterprise of any in the colony, yet, hope has never deserted us. Whilst at times it has seemed as if we were like the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the truth of the old precept of the Preacher has been always before us, " Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." Thus, we may look upon the meeting of farmers held in Cambridge, and comfort ourselves with the conviction that the community is filling itself with new life and energy and is about to assert itself for its own and the common good. The immense value of co-operation, or combination, if the latter term is preferred, amongst all classes of people who possess a community of interests in special industries, has be;:n urged upon the attention of the public, time after time ; therefore, it is not neces-ary to recapitulate the advantages here, since no intelligent person denies them. Commercial competition, and the selfishness and cupidity of trade, make their evil effects felt with greater weight upon the producers of the soil than upon any other division of the industrial world. The imperative necessity must be apparent for some combined plan of mutual protection in the markets, and for the exercise of vigilance in the political affairs of the country in order to guard against unequal taxation and representation. There is not a county in the Old Country without its active and influential associations established amongst the agriculturists ; and we doubt if any AngloSaxon country is without them. It will be remembered that we pointed out, on a former occasion, a most remarkable example of the kind in the Great Combine in the United States, which was a small combination started by a few farmers in a part of one of the States, is nows spread over all tin principal state of the Union, numbers its members by tens of thousands, and has become immensely powerful in the conservation of the farming interests, without interfering with the security of the nation. We have expressed our satisfaction at the movement for creating a Farmers' Club in this district; u-e earnestly trust that the promoters will be guided in their action by broad principles, and will devote their energies to make the association one worthy of the Waikato by not merely localising it, but by extending its influence over the whole district, with active branches and membership in every centre of population. It would be a bitter disappointment to sec the present movement travel on the lines of the Farmers' Association, which appears to have died an untimely death after a feeble existence of inanition, or defect in its vital organs. The Farmers' Association was never worthy of the name, nor of the aims ascribed to it ; its proceedings were covered with a veil, and it never courted the aid of the Press, through whom alone any public movement can hope to succeed by winning the strength of public opinion. Let the new Farmers' Club adopt a different course, and keep itself well within the open light of day. Sympathising, as we do, with any progressive movement on the part of the people, and attaching great importance to one like this that should be representative of the interests of our farmers, it goes without saying that we will watch its growth and endeavour in every way to promote the success of the Farmers' Club.