NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 5

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Mr Morgan, says, in reply to my criticism of his scheme for the combination of farmers, that it differs altogether from the farmers' co-operative associations, which, he contends, are

nothing more than trading companies, worked chiefly my means of the capital of men who are not farmer*, but who are content to receive good dividends through the business 1 furnished by the latter. Aftei all, "what's in a name?" So long as farmers derive a substantial benefit from their co-operative efforts it does not matter whether it is called a "trust," "union," or "co-operative society." Mr Morgan is, however, in error when he says that the bulk of the capital employed is found by non-farmers. I have been assured . upon the best authority that such is not tho case with regard to flourishing co-operative societies in North and South Canterbury, and I feel sure that Mr Morgan would be greatly surprised if he could see the share registers anct learn that by far the greater portion of the shares are taken up by agricultural and pastoral men. There are a few outsiders who invest capital — some of them up to the limit of 200 shares; but they are in the minority, both in number of shares and in amount of share capital. There was a fear at one time that these speculators would get on to the directorate, and work the concerns for the making of dividends only, but that has never been the case. I have inquired very carefully into the working of these associations, and I find that not only is the bulk of the capital furnished by farmers, but that a very great many have goodly sums deposited with their association. A small farmer who can only take up one or two shares participates in all the advantages, just as does the largest shareholder. Besides getting all his goods at the very lowest curtent rates, he has a share of the profits made each year. He has to pay cash each month for goods purchased, or pay bank rate of interest, but he gets a bonus of 5 per cent, of the total value of goods purchased during the yeaiy besires a refund of a portion of the commission made by the society in selling his produce, and a bonus, too, upon the amount he pays for storage of grain, etc. It is true, as Mr Morgan says, that a private company can give equally favourable terms, but he is not, perhaps, aware that the co-operation of farmers has been the means of bringing thfl

Farmery. and Combination.

prices charged by private commercial firms down to the bed-rock level charged by the co-operative associations to their shareholders. It seems to me that Mr Morgan makes a distinction without a difference in comparing his scheme with "co-operative societies. He wishes all the farmers of New Zealand to sell "their produce through one agent at a fixed low commission. This firm would have, to open branches in every town of the colony, and in a good year the profits mads would go to the members of the firm in plaos of being returned to the producer?,* as is the case with the co-operating farmers. These latter get their produce sold at the 'lowest possible rate of commission (1 per cent.), and also get a part of that refunded if there is a profit upon the business. Then what about imports? Farmers' want their sacks, woolpacks, manures, groceries, clothing, etc., at the lowest rates, arid the co-operating farmers get these things themselves by the ship -load, and what more could the agency do, as advocated by- Mr Morgan? The share-" olding farmers of Canterbury co-operative associations are just as well off, both in selling their produce and buying their necessary merchandise, as if they belonged to a huge "trust" or "union" embracing all the farms in the colony. They have the entire control of their business'; they meet annually to discuss the balance sheet; can question their directors, criticise their actions, turn them out, or reelect them as they think best. They get a good manager and pay him well, but their directors have supervising and discretionary power over the transactions of important business, and, so far as I can gather, everything works smoothly and satisfactorily, and little cause is given for dissatisfaction.. ln conclusion, I may say that I have no desire to oppose or disparage the scheme for farmers' combination as set forth by Mr Morgan, and I have been led to make the foregoing remarks from a wish to show that the sante benefits are derived by farmers from cooperation as> may be expected from a "trust" embracing the whole colony, and conducted financially by a private firm. Ip both schemes farmers combine for mutual benefit and protection. In the one the farmers find the meney and have complete control of the business, while in the other an agent finds the money and manages the business as he pleases, Bi.bjec(; to conditions prearranged as to rates of commission charged for selling produce. In the matter of imports, I presume farmers are bo be at liberty to deal with whomsoever they please. Shareholders in co-operative ooncejms are, of course, free to do business outBide of their association, but they find it

" Standard " Potato Manure is specially prepared for Potato Crops and where it is used big Yields and prime quality Potatoes ixe always forthcoming. — Nimim and Blais.

so much to their own interest to both sell and buy therein that there is no need to take their custom elsewhere.

Agricultural Polities at Home.

I — — « A candidate for a seat in the Imperial Parliament as representative of West Perthshire is reported to have said that the British agricultural interests had suffered from various causes, one of which was "Legislative indifference." Farmers, he said, were largely to blame for the indifference shown by the Legislature to their wants. They should look upon their business and their politics as part and parcel of the same thing, and instead of being at variance with regard to their political views, should bestir themselves and vote for the men who "would look after their interests without fear or favour. They must, he said, if they wanted proper attention, make tip their minds what they really want, and stand together to get it. He appeared to infer that farmers there do not know what they really want, but a Scottish farm paper takes ' uj> the cudgels for the farmers, and snys that they do" know .excedingly well what they want, and that Parliament also knows what . they want, but will not grant the Legislative relief required. If that is so, of course the candidate referred to was correct in saying that agriculturists should sink all minor differences of opinion, and put in men for farming constituencies who will agitate for the required reforms. When these are obtained, they can then indulge in political fads, but business first. These sentiments are precisely similar to those expressed by me in my notes , upon farmers' politics from time to time, and it seems that tho farming communities in the old country are as apathetic and indifferent upon such matters as we appear to be here. The difficulty, however, with us is not which candidate to vote for, but that ( puitable -andidates do not come forward, and therefore the matter generally resolves itself into a question as to which is the most desirable man to represent our interests. j Well-to-do farmers with sufficient ability and , leisure do not seem to care to be bothered , with political duties, and therefore we have ,to be content with those we get. There are i hundreds of successful farmers, shrewd and" ' practical, and who take a prominent part in local matters and in agricultural shows, who will not bo bothered with contesting an election for a seat in our House of Representatives. Perhaps they think that there is no : necessity for them to do so, for as they have . succeeded as farmers under the existing laws, j there is no reason why others should not: 1 they are content, and desire no change, therefore why should they be put about without a cause? There is something in that line . of reasoning, no doubt, but it appears to be rather a eelfieh view to take nevertheless.

Althougb. ordinary table eggs are generally

Shipping Eggs from Australia.

retailed in Britain at Id each, the poultry-keepers there do not seem able to meet the demand, as about four mil-

lion pounds sterling are paid each year for foreign eggs, of which a vast number are imported from France. As the average price of eggs in Australia is about half that price, poultrykteper^ there think thero is a good_ chance to make a profit by shipping them Home in la- go quantities. The Himalaya recently took about a million and a-half eggs Lo London, but I have not heard how the venture turned out. A poultry expert, writing to a Home paper, seems to doubt the successful result of the export of esgs from .Australia. Ho says it is doubtful whether the Australian eggs will retail at Id each, unless they are of extra, good &ize. They have to be carefully packed, and shipped in^a cool chamber for a six weeks' voyage, and sold to buyers, who must have a profit in selling at Id each to * consumers, even if they can get that price for them. He says it shows wonderful enlerpri&e, but is afraid it won't pay the exporters if they can get 6d or 7d per dozen in local Australian markets. I suppose the chief expenses would be packing and freight, and it is jusi a question of what those expenses are, provided the eggs arrive at their destination, in good order.

Farmers generally give their poultry whichever grain happens to be cheapest or most plentiful on the farm. Experts say, however, that fowls require a va-

Grim its Fowl Pood.

riefcy of food, which should consist of two binds-— hard and soft. Hard food is whole grain, and soft food includes all kinds of meal or pulse. Of the grains, barley and buckwheat are the best. The next best is wheat, which is good for growing poultry, as it forms flesh and muscle quickly. Oats should not be ussd as hard food, but as an occasional change from barley or wheat. They are excellent, however, as a soft food when crushed. Indian corn is not good, as tending to put on much internal fat, which leads to all kinds of maladies. Peas are useful as a change, and also cooked potatoes. In fact/ the greater variety and the more frequent the change of food the better when the birds are confined.

AGRICOLA