RURAL SELF-RELIANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 6

RURAL SELF-RELIANCE.

In tflosc Cays of suggestions about ! compulsory producers' pools, relief for ; mortgagors, and what is apparently a ' pretty general disposition to look to the ' State for assistance in time of trouble, ; there is something of more than parsing interest for New Zealand in a review | that the "Times" gives to what seems i to be a very excellent hook called ' "Denmark, a Co-operative Commonwealth." Everybody who know s anything about rural co-operation is aware that i Denmark has 6et thy world a striking i example in this respect. "Co-operation.'' j says the reviewer, "is the instrument j that has done, and is doing, the work of | building up and developing the internal j and export trade of Denmark. Hero, too, it is the farmer who saw tlie value of the instrument, applied it to one branch I after another of his industry, until lie. I unites in himself and for his own direct I profit all the capitalist agencies of other j countries. By co-operation, he is not only the producer, but the distributor, i the wholesale buyer and the retail seller, | hie own banker and provider of credit. I ne whole co-operative foundation on | which is reared the fabric of Denmark's | domestic prosperity was laid by the farmers themselves without assistance from the State. - ' Xew Zealand farmers please note. We do not suggest that the State should not help the farmer. It has helped liim very effectively in Xew Zealand, and no one would think of abolishing such a useful department as the Advances to Settlers Office. But the fact that Danish farmers have so successfully helped themselves and one another is worth stressing just now. Recently there has been talk about establishing agricultural banks in Xew Zealand. If such banks were established some people would be disappointed. . In Europe they have been founded by farmers or landlords, who i obtain money from the ordinary banks

by means of guarantees, and must therefore observe the ordinary precautions in advancing money. Nor is there any reason why the State should buttress these banks. Tbe existing facilities for providing money for rural development are many, and if they are not sufficient the fanners of the Dominion are numerous enough and wealthy enough to supplement them. As Mr. Elliot said yesterday, if the farmers are prepared to shoulder the responsibility of such banks there is no reason why they should not try the cxpoiiment. Thty have a record of success and sound lines to follow in the experience of several Continental countries, and notably Denmark.