STOCK-TAKING 157 



His independence was not so clear and far- 

 reaching as at first glance it might seem. 



Collective independence stood out to the eyes 

 of farmer leaders as the status to be striven for. 

 In the previous pages we have seen how 

 valiantly they have struggled and what pro- 

 gress has been made. Very much has been 

 accomplished, and now as we survey the whole, 

 our attention is first attracted to the organiza- 

 tion. We see the entire province dotted with 

 clubs, all knit together in a web centreing in 

 Head Office. From the outskirts to the centre 

 and from the centre to the outskirts in this net- 

 work of activity, people are passing, messages 

 are being carried, and ideas exchanged. Here 

 the commercial company is functioning, there 

 the paper is doing its work, and everywhere 

 members are coming together for consultation. 

 The organization, in all its completeness, is the 

 first vivid impression. 



Noting this, the question is at once suggested, 

 what in a vital sense does it stand for. Before 

 the United Farmers were ever heard tell of the 

 individual farmers were just as busy, they were 

 raising just as much produce, and were apparent- 

 ly performing their function in the national life. 

 As a matter of fact, however, their efforts were 

 one sided. So much attention was being paid 

 to production that very little notice was being 



