MEN ON THE LAND.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16813, 3 June 1926, Page 6

MEN ON THE LAND.

CO-OPERATION THEIR SALVATION 11.8. FARMERS' CONVICTION. A striking piece of imagery, in which the whole body of the insurance companies and banks, in their alleged disccuragement of the establishment of farmers' banks and insurance schemes, were described as "leading potential rivals away from secret and coveted gold mines," was used by a member of the Hawko's Bay Farmers' Union at a meeting at Napier. The companies were likened lo the plover, which, under the pretended _ affliction of a broken wing, led 100 'attentive people away from its nest. The speaker, in advocating the establishment of a farmers' bank, insurance scheme and superannuation fund, added that the only reason that sucli a scheme met with opposition was that there was merit in it. If it were not good it would not be opposed, and that it was opposed was proof that it was likely to be a success. How to save Money.

Assuming that a mortgagor had a mortgage of £IOOO, for which he was paying G per cent, interest, he could get it under the co-operative scheme for 3i or -1 per cent., and would thus save about £2O a year. "Would it not pay," asked the speaker, "lo put that £2O into the the funds of a farmers' bank? If such a thing were established, we would find that farmers, instead of being the most unimportant people in the country, would be recognised as what they arc —nicn who are carrying the whole country on their backs. But we must combine. It is no good trying to do anything alone. It has to be tried like any other machine. Able to Buy Dominion. "An agricultural bank would be Ihe salvation, not of farmers individually or collectively, but of I lie whole community. In twenty years' time the farmers would be able to buy New Zealand, and lo pay cash for it. '•lf we would co-operate, we could control the finances of the whole Dominion if we wanted to. Every man lias a right to assistance when he is, like the farmer, developing an industry thai is of value lo the country." The subject raised keen and prolonged discussion, and was followed by the passing of the following motion : "That il be a recommendation from this meeting lo Ihe Farmers' Union Dominion executive to appoint a committee consisting of Mr Barrer and one representative, from each province lo consider the merits of a farmers' mutual life insurance scheme, on the lines suggested by Mr Barrer, and also the possibiiilies of working it in conjunction with co-operative banking."