46 ITALY - CRKDIT 



; The sum of 2,000,000 liras thus destined for Potenza, increased by 

 250,000 liras taken from the sum destined for Bari, was paid in several in- 

 stalments, according to the requests made, into the provincial fund for agri- 

 cultural credit for Basilicata which was entrusted with its employment con- 

 formably to the aforementioned decree. The operations having reference 

 to the other provinces, Foggia, Bari and Campobasso, were entrusted to the 

 respective provincial funds, administered, as is known, by the savings- 

 bank of the Banco di Napoli. 



The agriculturists of these three districts made to this savings bank 

 10,588 applications for a total sum of 17,344,562 liras, in response to which 

 loans were granted amounting on 31 December 1916 to 13,729,927 liras. Of 

 this sum direct loans (of 8,680,063 liras) constituted 63.22 per cent., and re- 

 discounts (5,049,863 liras) — that is loans by the medium of institutions — 

 constituted 36.78 per cent. 



By means of the agricultural consortia, 3,239,338 liras v/ere distri- 

 buted ; by means of the agricultural and rural funds 985,616 liras; by 

 means of the funds for agricultural loans 316,235 liras ; and by means of 

 the popular banks 508,673 liras. The first place is, as always, occupied by 

 the agricultural consortia. 



According to the form and objects of these loans the aforementioned 

 sum of 13,729,927.24 liras was distributed as follows : 



lyiras 



subventions in money number of loans 13,865 6,421,347.26 



" kind " " " 7,622 7,308,579.24 



total loans 21,487 13,729,926.50 



Of the total sum of loans 46.76 per cent, was constituted b}'' those in 

 money and 53.24 per cent, by those in kind. To landowners 3,844,409 

 liras were conceded, to holders of long leases 110,519 liras, to metayers and 

 cultivators receiving a share of profits 187,371 liras, to tenants having short 

 leases 9,587,626 liras. 



Contrary to what is found to be true of ordinary operations of agri- 

 cultural credit, in which a higher percentage is accounted for by landowners 

 than b}' borrowers of the three other categories, tenants having short leases 

 Iffere predominate, receiving 69.80 per cent, of the whole sum of State ca- 

 pital distributed. 



The three provinces received altogether — Foggia 10,230,300 liras; 

 Bari 2,696,764 liras ; and Campobasso 802,862 liras. 



