20 RUSSIA - CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



1916. The unions had a really exceptional development. Duriog the war 

 twenty -seven unions were formed in Siberia where before the war there were 

 only three of them. Of these twenty-seven, ten were unions of co-operative 

 butter factories. The tendency to centralization was however afiected 

 by many and various repercussions tending to produce a crisis in the work of 

 organization. In 1915 the Union of Altai, comprising 100 societies, left the 

 Siberian Union which now comprises 800 societies ; and during the last 

 months of 1916 another autonomous union was organized at Kurgan. Be- 

 sides these associations there were many in the provinces of Moscow, Oren- 

 burg and Oufa. There were 3,000 co-operative buttermaking associations 

 in all Russia in 1916. 



Latterly the question of the organization of the National Central Union 

 of Co-operative Buttermaking Associations has arisen, for the Siberian co- 

 operative factories have begun to extend their sphere and to make butter 

 not only for exporting abroad but also for the home market. Dangerous 

 competition in the field of commerce with the Union of Vologda has thus 

 arisen. 



Another question, much discussed, involves the work of various branches 

 of co-operation, the question namely of the National Co-operative Union 

 for the Export of Corn. A further step for the development and reinforce- 

 ment of Russian co-operative enterprise is about to be made here this 3'ear. 



