l6 IXFORMATIOX RELATING TO CO-OPERATIOX AND ASSOCIATION 



procuring their sanction b}^ strong legislative measures ; c) to helping the 

 efforts of co-operative societies where credit is concerned whether in rela- 

 tion to works put up for tender, requisitions of provisions, the cultivation 

 of lands, collective farms or the foundation of establishments, works and 

 industries, etc. ; d) to organize offices, departments for collective buying, 

 and means of production and distribution, with the object of giving to co- 

 operative business, wliich already deals with nearly a thousand million 

 liras (i), a single basis, anda financial strength which will allow it to exercise 

 a beneficent influence on the Italian markets. 



The resolutions concerned with the development of thrift, co-operation 

 and national economy were no less important. They can be divided into 

 three groups in accordance with their aims. In the matter of social legis- 

 lation they asked : i) that general insurance against sickness, disablement, 

 maternit}^ and the accidents of all kinds of labour should be obligatory; 



2) that there should be fit laws to regulate labour and labour contracts ; 



3) that trades should be taught with the help of an ample supply of techni- 

 cal means ; 4) that there should be labour universities for the higher edu- 

 cation of the technical managers and the directors, inspectors and secre- 

 taries of industries, businesses and co-operative societies. 



In relation to co-operation directly they asked further : a) that the le- 

 gislation as to co-operative societies should be revised and rendered more 

 precise, less ambiguous, and more accordant with the development of co- 

 operation in its various branches of consumption, agriculture, production, 

 labour and building ; b) that the law as to the State's accounts should be 

 revised, particularh' where the jurisdictory aspect of tenders, auctions and 

 private contracts are concerned, so that the execution of public works should 

 be directly confided to the labourers' co-operative organizations, controlled by 

 the State ; c) that there should be legislation for the constitution of agricul- 

 tural domains, colonies and collective farms, for the cession of the lands of 

 public administrations to co-operative societies, and for a large provision 

 of agricultural credit for all Itah*. 



Finally after the war : i) a broad and courageous policy should be fol- 

 lowed as regards public works, improvements, mountain basins, hydraulic 

 installations, canalization, ports, railways and roads ; 2) national and pro- 

 vincial commissions should be formed for the immediate investigation of 

 conditions in the various districts of Italy and the elaboration of a vast 

 programme for the increase of production, etc. 



2. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IvEGAI^I^Y CONSTITUTED ON 31 DECEMBER 1913 

 — Annuario statistico italiano (Italian Statistical Yearbook), 2nd Series, Vol. V, 1915. 

 Direzione generate dell a staiisiica e del lavoro , Roma ,1916. 



We borrow from the Italian Statistical Yearbook, recently published 

 by the General Direction of Statistics and Labour, the following data as 



(i) I lira = about 9 14 d. at par 



