160 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ava., 1899. 
contains the substance of my scheme. JI may mention that this scheme has been 
presented to the Minister, through the Premier; and your Chairman to-day, Mr. 
Chataway, replied to me six weeks ago, stating that he had read the Bill 
and submitted it to a practical bank manager, who had told him he thought a 
good deal of it. Some gentlemen said we do not want cheap money—that it is 
dangerous. Perhaps it is dangerous for those who do not know how to use it; 
but in any event it is neither cheap nor dear money that we want, but our own. 
Mr. Peek mixed up co-operation with banking. A bank starts on a shilling-a- 
year subscription—a bank whose first business, if it wanted to Pus up a shed, would 
be to apply to another bank for a loan. If we have got credit enough when we 
are united to get a loan from another bank, I say why not go straight to the goal 
and do it ourselves ? 
Mr. F. W. Peex (Loganholme): The Bank of Italy was started without 
Goyernment support, as were also the German banks, the Government in the 
latter case eventually stepping in. It was the same with Austria. These 
banks were first started by the people themselves, not on a paper currency, but 
on the sterling cash of the realm. For the greatest amount of good to be 
obtained from money it must be used carefully, and in its management lies the 
chief success of co-operation. With regard to what Mr. Fischer said about the 
Chinese lady, I may say that the association I represent is a small-footed one. 
We begin at the root, and to do so you must prove to your farmers in your own 
district the benefits of co-operation. My association has done a very great 
amount of good amongst our farmers financially, and as an instance I may 
mention that in one purchase we sayed £60 by co-operation. The farmers’ 
wanted 43 tons of seed potatoes altogether, and to get it they advanced £180 
to me, I doing all the work. I wrote to Mr. McLean, of the Agricultural 
Department, and he suggested that I communicate with the Tasmanian 
Secretary for Agriculture. I did so, and received particulars as to the best 
source from whence to procure the seed. When the order was sent, it was 
accompanied by a cheque, and I may tell you that the 48 tons of potatoes we: 
procured were not obtained from any one man, but from a co-operative company 
of farmers, and by us thus dealing direct we saved the £60 I have mentioned. 
I believe in self-help, and consider it the secret of success. Mr. Toft 
questioned whether directors could be got to work in honorary capacities, and I 
may say it applies to districts where the farmers are close together. In the 
matter of capital for drainage purposes, one of our branches at Pimpama Island 
took up drainage, and with successful results. In this case they gave their: 
labour, as capital was not wanted as matters stood, and success in one case 
shows that under the same management and under the ‘same rules success will 
follow elsewhere. It is only by the affiliation of societies that greater results 
will ensue, and all that we ask the State is to see that each individual association - 
is carried on on a firm and solid basis. 
Mr. E. Swayne (Mackay) : I am not one of those who believe the Goyern- 
ment should establish a shop where a sovereign would be-sold for 10s., for if’ 
the Government did bad business we all would suffer. I do, however, think 
that when good security is forthcoming that it would benefit the community at 
large by supplying the primary producers with reliable money at a low rate of 
interest. Of course the security is always the great trouble, and the legislation 
of the southern colonies has insisted on freehold security. I understand the 
Government are going to introduce legislation on this subject, and would there-- 
fore ask if something on the Rewfeisen system could not be introduced here. 
We only need to go to other countries to see what is being done in the direction 
of agricultural co-operative production. In Denmark, by co-operative: 
production they have captured the British market in respect to dairy products, 
and in Germany the same system has greatly advanced the position of 
agriculturists. In New South Wales, by the co-operative sale of produce, the 
farmers derive very great benefit. Here in Queensland, although we have 
had failures, we have had successes. After I had been at the Gatton Conference 
2 years ago, I went through the Downs and visited the Greenmount cheese: 
factory. I found there that through co-operation they were getting twice the- 
