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country there are signs indicating that in these days of rings amongst 
middle-men, unions amongst wage-earners, and combination generally on 
the part of those he deals with, the farmer is beginning to awake 
to the necessity of similar action on his part. One instance is 
found in the German and other European land banks, whereby a system 
of co-operative credit, resting on a mutual unlimited liability requirmg 
a most rigid scrutiny as to every candidate’s ability to pay his share of the 
money borrowed before admittance as a member, and a keen supervision over 
the manner in which loan money is expended and its application to repro- 
ductive work, have enabled the farmers in the countries where they exist to 
borrow money ata very low rate, where formerly, in many cases, their] 
was one continual effort to pay interest to the money-lender. And these banks 
are the more noteworthy when it is remembered that very few of them ever 
received any assistance from Government, the only interference generally being 
astrict audit by Government officials, “ although this in itself, when passed, isan 
advantage constituting to investors an assurance that the banks are a safe 
medium for inyestment.’’ Again, the manner in which, by co-operative dairy- 
_ing and later co-operative bacon-curing, Denmark has, within the last few 
years, largely increased its national wealth in the way that is of all ways the 
most to be desired, it having gone into the hands of the small producer. Then 
we have the farmers’ associations in America that have made the farmer 4 
power in politics: And yet another instance nearer home is the organisation 
in South Australia that has been the means of its members obtaining a higher 
price for their wheat, and has enabied them to effect a considerable reduction 
in the purchasing of their supplies. ‘he co-operative stores in England and 
Treland might also be quoted, and even in Queensland a move has been made. 
But the time has now arrived for us to earnestly consider the steps to be take 
to still further strengthen ourselves for holding our own in the world’s markets. 
We are rich in natural advantages; and if we are true to one another, 
everything else necessary is within our reach—this Conference, I trust, being 
the first step towards the farmers of Queensland working unitedly to obtain 
what may be termed artificial advantages to supplement their natural ones. 
In these days of competition, reducing the cost of production and the 
charges as between the producer and the consumer, so that a fair profit to the 
former may be left after his crop has been disposed of, are the first items tor 
the consideration of every farmer, and here associated action is most useful. 
Unitedly we can dispose of our crops to the best advantage, we can arrange for 
their carriage at the lowest rates, buy our supplies co-operatively—* for what we 
consume on the farm we sell again in the shape of farm produce” ; and like any 
other business men, we must endeavour to buy what we afterwards sell, in the 
cheapest market. In fact, in a country like this, where the different districts 
vary so much in climate that nearly each has its special product, there 18 
nothing toprevent us arranging a system of purchase ti interchange by 
which a sugar-grower in the North may buy maize direct from a Downs farmer, 
and between them, secure to themselves the profits that now support an army 
of intermediaries. All that is required is the thorough organisation of out 
calling, and we want branches with their officials responsible for the purchase, 
delivery, and quality of stuff sold or exchanged with members of another brane 
of the same organisation situated at, perhaps, the other end of Queensland. 
. Or if we desire to borrow money for improving our properties and for other 
reproductive purposes, on the most favourable terms from first hands, we have 
already instances that, on joint security, such can be done even 1 
this colony. As an instance I could point to schools of art an 
other institutions which, upon very little other security than the character 
of the men composing the commiteee managing them, are now getting 
money at 6 per cent. Unitedly also we can better resist demands 
for exorbitant rates of wages; and this matter in tropical agriculture; 
requiring such a large proportion of hand labour for its successful prosecution, 
ig most important. Again, in a young country like this, with agriculture a8 
