CO-OPERATION AND THE RISE IN BREAD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2529, 25 September 1888, Page 2

CO-OPERATION AND THE RISE IN BREAD.

TO TUB KDITOH. Sm,—As no answer has appeared from either the millers or bakers to my last letter, I am entitled to presume that tho figures and facts there mentioned are unanswerable, but before I say any more on the subject I should like it to be distinctly understood that I do not think there is a man in Waikato who would object to the rise in price of bread or any other produce grown here so long as he knew that the rise really contributed to the benefit of the producer, because there is not a working man in the district but knows that the success of the farmer means increased work and higher wages. The whole stability of the country depends upon the success of the agricultural, pastoral and mining pursuits of the colony, but in each of these departments, we find that both producer and consumer are fleecedj by the middlemen, banks, loan agencies, merchants, millers, bakers, "et hoc genus omne," who thrive and grow rich by means of syndicate, rings, &c, to the detriment of the producer and consequent impoverishment of the consumer. The real remedy for this state of matters is co-opera-tion first amongst the farmers who have suffered very bitterly tho last few years. But this is a matter that the farmers must take up themselves, and if thoy do not, they deserve the reproach that has been cast on them, that this is the most backward farming community in New Zealand. With your permission, I will return to the question of co-operation amongst the settlers in a future issue, but the intention of my present letter is to show how the inhabitants of Hamilton and surrounding districts may break down the monopoly that at present exists between the bakers and millers. First, let twenty men who are willing to have bread baked in their own homes meet together, and purchase two or four tons of flour for cash in the lowest market. We shall soon see whether the quoted prices of flour are correct or not. I believe that Hour can bo purchased for considerably less than quoted prices (for cash), "vide Mr Firth's letter in the Herald." If the people will only combine, it would not bo long before co-operative institutions of every kind would be established throughout the length and breadth of Waikato to the mutual advantage of producer and consumer, and with a very small expenditure of capital.—Yours truly. T. C. 11. Hamilton East, 24 September, 1888.