THE FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9493, 15 August 1891, Page 2

THE FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— -As a member of this Assaciation, ■and also a small farmer, I beg to protest against the political lines taken up by the Directors, or, rather, I should say, by theuf Chairman, for it is well known that he and he alone voices the whole concern. Cooperation being admittedly on© form of Socialism, it is to my mind an inoondatency that supporters of co-operation can be found foolish enough to condemn tha proposals of the Government, inch pro* posals tending towards another form of Socialism, namely, to discourage the land being held by a few individuals. The people are leaning more and more on Governments, and surely common sense will say that our Government, in using its taxation proposals as a means to a VUiy desirable end, is working for the people, and therefore must he right. I lay no claim to superior intelligence, but having read Hansard (I beg Co-opera-tive Directors to do likewise), I fail to find one single proposal that will injure the small farmer. Mr Fish, for Dunedin, said “ that small farmers are the white-headed boys of the Government** (Hansard , page 391) ; and as yet the QoV* eminent have not denied the soft impeach* ment, so wo can suppose that the farmers are “ the white-headed boys.** It is about time that small farmers asserted themselves, and refused politically to be any longer led by the nose by tha capitalists and land jobbers. I give the Co* operative Directors fair notice. I have heard many farmers express their doubts as to whether the original business of the Association are not being departed from. The Directors, to look well after. their business, new ventures, &0., should not let their minds be disturbed by politics. Per* haps, if their business cares give them much trouble, the Chamber-of Commerce will advise them.

If I may venture to give a little gratuitous advice to the Directors (in response to their politioal opiniona), £ beg that they will at an early date call a meeting of the shareholders, with the object of altering the title of the Association to “ The Capitalists and Landowners* Dividend-earning Association.'*'-—I am, Ac. WAKA.