from Mildura on 'Voluntary Co-operation'.
It is now generally admitted that land is the source of all wealth. This being so you would naturally expect to see the most being made of it. That such is not the case is patent to all observers, who have travelled in Australia. Even the small area under cultivation is farmed in a slovenly manner, in many instances common garden necessities being neglected. The farmer instead of producing to supply his own wants, slaves to furnish the middle man with material to conjure with; and again plays into his hands by purchasing from him what he does not produce himself. Thus they have to cultivate much in excess of their own wants, so as to pay exorbitant charges for freight, commission, storage, etc, and the profits, of mechanics who execute their orders such as blacksmiths, builders and others.
Now, would it not be much better for a number of neighboring farmers to combine and invite a number of other laborers of all classes to co-operate with them. Thus they would be in a position to supply nearly all their own wants; they could erect good substantial buildings, construct their own irrigation works, manufacture their own clothing, much of their own machinery, and supply their own amusements. A surplus of commodities could be produced to exchange for the few requirements that could not be supplied by the co-operators themselves. Something must be done to bring the farming community and the trades generally into closer contact; and as workers to understand that their interests are identical. It is evident that the power of monopoly is rapidly showing us into a system of compulsory co-operation, in which the industrial efforts of laborers of all classess simply enrich the avaricious money grubbers and degrade themselves.
This letter is merely a hint to co-operators who are sick of politics as to what might be done; the details of such an undertaking must be worked out by the co-operators themselves. To the straight-out anarchist I would say, assert your rights, jump unused lands.
