Correspondence.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1408, 14 May 1867, Page 3

Correspondence.

CO OPE RATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Dear Sir, —Asa medium for communicating and disseminating the ideas and views of the various classes of the people, as well as an exponent of Bentiment and feeling, your columns 1 presume are open to receive all suggestions which may tend to the rescue of any interest that may either be overdriven or overridden. Now, sir, it appears to mc that under this last category will be found, if not the most influential, certainly tho most numerDiis section of the community, whose interests bid fair to become entirely monopolized by a much smaller class, though it be what is called the moneyed circle. I allude to the mercantile body, and the position it has assumed by the manifestation of a too eager desire for selfaggrandisement, and that, too, at the expense of the agricultural class, which forms the bulk of our population. No one with his eyes open can be blind to the fact that the farmers are obliged to sell their corn at prices altogether inadequate to repay them for the money, time, and labor expended in growing and bringing their crops into market, while on the other hand they have to pay very dearly for all articles that may be required for personal and general use and family consumption. That this anomalous state of things should exist, and that it does exist every one must admit, is an undeniable proof that wrong is being done, that a remedy is urgently required, and must be obtained. Viewing the crops of the present season as a whole, what with the caterpillar, the rust and the blight, together with tho very low prices that have prevailed, many of our farmers have been reduced to the direst extremity ; and would you believe it, sir, there have not been wanting among our storekeepers (with shame be it said) men who have not scrupled to take the smallest advantage in such a stato of matters. It iB known for a fact that in the beginning of the season certain storekeepers, in their haste to make money by any means, have goue to some of their customers in the farming line, taking their bill in hand or in pocket, and said, " Mr Bo-a**d-So, we wilt buy your corn if you like," and offering for it the very lowest possible figure. If the farmer demurred to parting with his grain at such a price in tho hope that the markets would rise when he could sell to better advantage, the storekeeper replied by I presenting his bill and demanding an immediate settlement. Perhaps the farmer, after making every effort in his power, was unable at the time to meet the demand so unexpectedly made, and thus was obliged to submit to the humiliation of being forced to accept the terms of his unrelenting creditor, and part with his corn to the extent required and at the price offered. Another fact little less aggravating is, that when the storekeeper has been remonstrated with for thus endeavoring to grasp every advantage, he turns upon the farmer with the words, " Oh, you know you can't do any better," while perhaps at the very time the latter may be selling him oats at 2s 9d a bushel, from which the storekeeper is able to realize 8s per bushel by exporting to Greymouth or Hokitika. Theso are not solitary instances, but have happened more than once. It is actions such as these which call loudly for redress, and the system which admits of such practices no less calls for instant amendment. It is for the farmers, then, and all with whom their interests are identified, to say how long this state of things shall continue. If there is any truth in the proverb—" Unity is strength," then virtually the moment they take united action the matter is in their own hands. Let them but form a combination, so that they may be enabled to export all their own produce to the best markets, and import whatever may be required for their own consumption. Let some such course as this be adopted ; let it receive the hearty support of every farmer, and all who have connection with the agricultural interest—then, indeed, are they masters of the situation ; then would they be enabled to sell their grain at the best market prico, and buy their supplies at the cheapest possible rate. To accomplish this most desirable end a union would require to be formed and conducted on some such principle as those Cooperative unions which obtain in various partß of England and Scotland, and which are found to work so successfully ; and there is no reason to doubt that what has done so well there would not work equally well here. I know that in certain quarters this matter is pooh poohed ; and that there are some who say such a scheme would never do here ; but I also know that the very same individuals are shaking in their shoes, their hearts failing them for fear lest this scheme should obtain but a footing in the province, well knowing that it would soon overspread the whole Dfllany. What then will the reality bo when tl*»« very ghost of it causes sucli cread in tine matter-of-fact "view of the case, and see whetlier "LI IJ " M, j or not the Bf heme would sueeeedisupposing a strong co-operative union -was formed by tho whole agricultural body in every district round Kaiapoi, the capital which would be subscribed by the sbares they would tftKO UP w oUld be amply sufficient to enable them not only to become the exporters of their own grain, but would also enable them to have a general store for the sale of all «uch articles as would be required for their use as well as for that of the general public. Thus the shareholders would enjoy the threefold advantage, first, of sending their grain to the best markets, and getting the best price for it ; second, of buying all their goods at their own rtore, where they would be retailed at the lowest possible rates ; and, third, of sharing in the profits (at the year's end) which would be apportioned to each shareholder according to the number of shares held and the length oftimo he had been in the society. It has been s>u'd that the projected scheme would prove a failure by the present storekeepers underselling the co-operative store, but that is ne*rt lo impossible. Such a thing has been tried at home in seme of the large towns, but has always ended in disaster to the opposition and signal success to the co-opera-tive unions, and so would it be here. How could it be otherwise? No one man, not even a company, could successfully oppose a combination such as we have been contemplating. For example, the co-operative union could buy goods at home or at any of the colonial or foreign markets just aa cheap and could retail them at a lower rate than any

storekeeper could afford to do, or even if it were possible for them by any outside us'istance cr combination to sell goods ar prime cost, ns has been done before now at home, such a thing could only Li-t a very short time. I question very much, ho*."over, whether in an agricultural communiiy like this is such an event is practicable, for here there i" nut tin* did'crt-i:! cl-is»cs of people to uphold the storekeepers tlvit there is iri tln> hirge ti'wns at home. Here the agricuhur.il dn-- and interest.-* ire psirt-mouut, and i.liey, b.-ing bunded together, would iiud it tin-ir interest to support the co-operative store, even though it were possible for the other storekeepers to give away their goods at prime cost. Then 1 would ask, if the agricultural class withhold their support, who else is to uphold the storekeepers in, suy Kaiapoi, or any other country district. Seeing the benefits to be derived from co-operation, then I would say by all means co-operate ! co-operate ! cooperate ! j Let it be gone into at once in down right | earnest; let every farmer, large and Bmall, let every farmhouse man, and all whose interests are concerned, lend a helping hand, and we shall soon see if the farmers can't do any better than sell corn from 2s 6d to 3s a bushel, or whether they cannot buy provisions at a very great reduction on the present rate. I see the Mandeville people have taken the first step in this direction, and have called a meeting at Kaiapoi of all favorable to join the undertaking; and it is to be hoped that all the farmers round, and all others who favor this movement, will endeavor to be present at that meeting, and so give strength to the rising cause. With the wish that co-operative stores—the people's friend—may soon be seen in every country district, not only in this province, but all over the colony, I conclude, trusting the importance of the subject and interest involved will excuse the length of these remarks. I remain, &c, An Advocate fob Co operation.