In response to the advertisement which appeared in last weeks’ Chronicle, a large and respectable meeting of farmers of Whitby and Pickering was held at Ray’s Hotel, in the town of Whitby on Wednesday (Oct. 18). The chair was taken by Mr. J. S. M. Wilcox and Mr. Andrew Annis was appointed secretary. Mr. Bradford explained the object of the meeting, which was to form a Farmers’ Association, with head office at Toronto and branches in each township for the handling of the grain of the Province, without the interference of middlemen. All grain to be held by the Association and not to be sold until the highest figure was obtainable. Advances to be made to farmers storing their grain and requiring money. Mr. Flint, Mr. Holliday, Mr. George Leng and Mr. J. H. Long, Mr. R. H. Lawder and others were the principal speakers. Resolutions were passed and several present signed a document agreeing to form and association.
If the scheme could be carried out, no doubt it may prove beneficial, or at least a protection to the farmers. But the difficulties are too numerous in the way of the practical working of a scheme of the kind. However, the gathering, and the interchange of opinions by so many prominent farmers, was calculated to do good, and showed this at all events, that farmers were intelligent and capable enough of looking after their own interests.
