WHY SHOULD NOT OUR FARMERS BE EXPORTERS?

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1225, 20 March 1880, Page 3

WHY SHOULD NOT OUR FARMERS BE EXPORTERS?

No. 1. TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARC MAIt. Sir, —A mere casual glance at the nor proverbial success which characterise: co-operative companies will at once prov< that the principle involved i 3 sound while the difficulties are few and readilj surmounted. When any body of men art once determined that their interests shal be advanced and protected by mutua effort, the outcome invariably is such thai even the most sanguine are surprised bj the beneficial results obtained. It is gene rally admitted that buying in the cheapes and selling in the highest market are absolutely necessary in order to meet with dus success, and yet we too frequently fine that, from the want of some organising lead, local industries languish, or, at best meet with, but partial succces3. This i; Tery glaringly apparent in several indus tries in New Zealand, amongst which strange to say, in this the nineteenth cen tury, is that of oar chief production—breadsrtaflsr. Here, at the antipodes, w< have a race of sturdy, intelligent yeomen : tilling generous soil, which, yields enor mods crops of cereal 3 of the finest quality and, in our dear fatherland, we have teeming millions of consumers only toe anxious to purchase. Then, why shoulc not our farmers take every mean 3 in theii power to secure a direct outlet for theii produce. Hitherto, the only market ii which they could 3ell their produce has been a local one, subject to unaccountable and capricious fluctuations, invariably al the expense of the producer and to the profit of the exporter. Th« 3 it will be seen that the farmera do not sell in the best market, and consequently do not reap the full benefit that their labor deserves. Our fanners know full well that the bulk of the profit made in bread goes directlj into the capacious packets of the exporters, who, one and all, wax fat on the sale of the very products that causes the producer so much care and anxiety and toe frequently so little profit. It may be asked by our farmers, How can we secure the sale of our produce in the highest market 1 To thi3 the answer is, Co-operate, co-operate, co-operate. Almost all great and successful affairs have had but small beginnings, so that if even only a few of our farmers, imbued with a due sense of their wants, were to form themselves into an exporting company, the difficulty in their way would 3oon be overcome, and a trial shipment of their grain would produce such results as would cause one and all to rejoice. Having once paved the way, they would go on, season afterseason, doing that which i 3 absolutely necessary in order to be successful, viz., telling in the highest market. It may be aaid by some farmers that their duty is simply to produce and sell at the nearest market, but this i 3 such apalpably erroneous view and is in such direct opposition to all experience that we cannot for one moment argue it. No one can doubt that it pajs handsomely to export; can any one say that profit should not go to the producer. The producer does not grow grain in order to oblige the exporter, nor does the exporter purchase to oblige the producer. He purchases and exports simply because he realises a considerable profit by so doing, and would cease to purchase and export if it did not pay him so to do. Now, the profit made by exporting clearly belongs to the producer, who is a Icaer of fair profits so long 33 he ignores the necessity of selling in the highest market. If our farmers knew how much they are annually losing by neglecting to sequre the sale of their produce in the highest market there would indeed be a mighty awakening amongst them, and deep and loud would be the expressions of regret at their supineness. The position therefore is simply thus The produce is here—the market is abroad; how is the produce to be brought to the market ? How, no greater difficulties exist to prevent producers from exporting than exiat to prevent speculators exporting Thanks to the multiplicity of ships afloat awaiting freights, no difficulty exists as to transit ; thanks to cur insurance companies no difficulQr exists to prevent loss in transit ; thanks to the liberal policy of some- of our banks, no difficulty exists to prevent such advances being received as may be required for immediate use by any exporter ; and no difficulty exists in securing the services of some well-known and competent firm in the Corn Exchange, London, who, for a trifling commission, would only be too happy to act as agents, and secure the highest possible prices for >ll consignments. Oar farmers have thus everything m their favor, and it is merely requisite that some dozen or more should k&e the whole subject into careful con-

aideration and co-operate to send a fuU shipment home, and patiently abide the result. . . a There is no necessity to qnote bgures in order to prore that it will pay our producers to export, for this simple reason, that it pay ß speculators to export. Anere is no necessity to prove that our farmers suffer considerable loss by not exporting, for the fact i 3 patent, and there is no earthly reason -why our farmers should neglect any opportunity, or overlook any means, whereby they might readily secure that most necessary adjunct to success, viz., the highest market. The advice now tendered to our farmers is—co-operate, co-operate, co-operate. Let them meet and fairly discuss this vital question, agree to some definite line of action, and at once set about the good work with similar energy to that which they devote to producing; and no doubt can exist, that the effect will be such as to cause a speedy and great acquisition of wealth to the district, and to greatly and permanently enhance the value of all our cultivated land. A Fabmeb.