262 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



each other at business meetings makes it easier for them to approach 

 each other in social intercourse. Experience in a marketing associa- 

 tion gives farmers a more rational outlook on marketing methods, and 

 also both business experience and a higher sense of business responsi- 

 bility. But none of these fortunate results occurs unless the farmers 

 meet with, at least, a fair degree of business success, which in turn 

 is possible only if their organization has undertaken to perform a real 

 economic function and if it is managed efficiently. 



" True co-operation," says Mr. Henry, " consists in organization 

 based on mutual understanding to further community interests. 

 Being a good neighbour is the first essential for being a good 

 American " — and a good South African too, so one may add, or a 

 good Christian. And Mr. C. W. Thompson, of the American Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, v.rites : "In the farming processes, from the 

 first stage to the last, from the selection of the seed to the marketing 

 of the product, as well as for the promotion of general social well- 

 being in farm life, organization has proved its value, and, as this 

 field is being reclaimed more and more fully, organized methods are 

 being employed in increasing measure." 



One of the brightest jewels in the crown of co-operation is the 

 remarkable stimulating effect it has upon the pursuit of Education. 

 Without exception wherever true co-operation has been practised it 

 has been found to exercise the same power. And that power is 

 compelling, constituting one of co-operation's best claims to our 

 coi sidei'ation in promoting national agriculture by means of educa- 

 tion. 



('4) Oeganization in the Relationship between the State and the 



Farmer. 



" It may be asked, if co-operation is so advantageous to agri- 

 culture and to rural folk generally, in both an economic and a social 

 sense, how is it to be organized? The question has, of course, 

 attracted the attention of Governments claiming to be ' paternally ' 

 interested in the welfare of those whom they govern. Governments, 

 appreciating its value, have tried to promote agricultural co-operation, 

 and have in some cases set up imposing structures of organization 

 having the title ' co-operation ' conspicuously blazoned on their 

 fagade ; but they have never j^et succeeded in producing quite the 

 right article. It is indeed difficult to see how they could produce it. 

 For co-operation, to he worth anything, requires to he the production 

 of those who participate in it, heing based upon pure self-help and 

 self-reliance, qualities which the Government, he it ever so powerful, 

 cannot produce in others. Apart from that, the mere fact that co- 

 operation which consists in persons doing for themselves what other- 

 wise necessarily others would have to do for them, of necessity 

 involves competition with other established interests, and so from the 

 very outset in justice places a bar in the way of Government 

 assistance."* 



At the outset it is well to point out that the origin of Govern- 

 ment aid, where such has been given, has not been the desire to assist 

 co-operators as such, but rather to develop agriculture as a basic 

 industry. Proof of this is to be found in the fact that there is 



* The Future of Our Agriculture," by H. W. Wolff.] 



