50 TJRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XVIIL 2. 



with Mr. Moody Stuart in this good work are Captain Mark Moody 

 Stuart, whom we are glad to welcome back from active service, 

 Mr, Forbes Todd, the Managers of the various estates, Mr. Jones and 

 last but not least, Mr. Skinner, who has undertaken the duties of 

 Hon. Secretary of all your Societies. 



We have thus succeeded at last having now 12 societies in Trinidad 

 and six in Tobago, and they will, I believe, increase and flourish to 

 the lasting benefit of the smaller cultivators of the colony, and through 

 them of the large estates and of the whole community. The principles on 

 which they work have been carefully explained to j'ou all. I will 

 therefore only deal now with a few of the more important points. 



MEMBERSHIP. 

 Not ever'j'One can join a Credit Society. He, or she must be an 

 owner or renter of land in the particular district in which the Society 

 works, and must be a person of good character. The latter point is 

 very important for you to remember. Do not admit people who are 

 known not to be honest, and hard working. If you do you may find 

 later, if you have let them borrow money, that they do not put it to 

 proper use, and fail to repay it. Every person of this character is a 

 danger to your Society, and may cause you to be liable for his debts. 

 Let it be an honour to be a meniber of an Agricultural Credit Society, 

 so that membership may show tiiat you ai'e recognised by your neigh- 

 bours as being a person of good character. 



OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE. 



These are very important positions and on the selection of good men 

 much of the success of the Societ3' will depend. All your officers and 

 committee men give their services free, and the thousands of cultivators 

 in Credit Societies throughout the world have great reason for thanks 

 to their officers for their disinterested work. Work loyally and honestly 

 with them and make their task as easy as possible. Here you have 

 been greatly assisted at present by the fact that many of the managers 

 of your estates have been read\- to accept responsibilities and duties as 

 Trustees, &c., that Mr. Skinner is working hard as Secretary of all ^our 

 Societies, and Mr. Jones as Inspector. 



SOCIETY BORROWING MONEY. 

 Why can the Credity Society borrow money from the Colonial Bank, 

 as you do, on better terms than each of you alone? The reason is 

 this. The Bank does not know each of you separately, and cannot 

 afford to have Inspectors all over the Colony to visit each holding, to 

 find out whetlier the security is good and whether the money, if lent, is 

 being put to proper uses. The Bank will however lend to 50 or 100 of 

 you, selected people of good character, joined together in a Society, 

 registered by the Government and under Government inspection, on the 

 condition that all the members together are liable for the money lent 

 the Society. 



Y'ou settle at your general meetings how much you will borrow ; for 

 that reason you must attend regularly all meetings that are called, 

 because what is agreed on at these meetings is binding on you all and 



