The Problem of High Prices Analyzed 71 



business interests of his neighbouring town, and, indeed, the 

 people of the town, always small traders, have too often looked 

 upon the farmer as the man out of whom to make all they can, 

 taking advantage of their position at every point. 



"I can see every reason why municipal councils should be a 

 medium through which county associations could be assisted 

 in financing a number of such local societies through supplying 

 printed forms supplied by the Provincial Secretary's Depart- 

 ment for insuring proper organization, reporting as to the good 

 standing of members and guaranteeing that loans would be 

 properly secured, as are our drainage debentures under the 

 Ontario Drainage Act in some of the western counties of the 

 province. What the ordinary farmer needs, above everything 

 else, is encouragement to make improvements, which by making 

 his labour more effective will ensure better returns." 



"Yes," said the professor, "this is exactly the point, or as one 

 of our acute economists expresses it, * Increased economy really 

 means the more effective use of loanable capital'; personal 

 efficiency rather than a growth of population may be the great 

 force in increasing wealth, and with the uplift of the personality 

 of those using capital, as in this case of the farmer, comes a 

 better social spirit, and the replacing of competition by coopera- 

 tion. Thus it becomes easier to get groups of producers to 

 combine to prevent waste and, when they combine, the main- 

 tenance of fixed prices just as bank interest becomes readily 

 assured." 



"That is perfectly splendid, professor," said Mr. Keeler. 

 "and sums up the whole matter exactly. As I see it the solu- 

 tion of the problem resolves itself into three factors as does any 

 other of my business problems: primarily, it means economy in 

 the production of farm products, as in my factory it means 

 enough machines and enough intelligent labor to operate them 

 and the best of materials to work with, which means seed, soil 

 and climate. It must mean, next, that what is produced must 

 be of the highest quality possible, be harvested and preserved 

 in the best manner possible until put in the hands of the con- 

 sumer; and, lastly, it means that no undue costs be levied upon 

 any product by either local buyers, transportation companies 

 or commission men. I might give you a whole sermon on these 



