INFORMATION RKI^ATING TO CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION II 



The assistance rendered in these circumstances by the co-operative 

 societies was substantial. During the 3^ear the number of societies of all 

 kinds in Bengal rose from 1,992 to 2,243, the number of members from 

 107,116 to 121,833, and the working capital from Rs. 1,09,51,050 to 

 Rs. 1,24,48,573. The progress made in four years becomes clear when it 

 is recalled that on 30 June 1912 the combined capital of all the societies 

 was Rs. 26,00,000. Of the Rs. 1,24,48,573 which constituted the combined 

 working capital in the year under review Rs. 42,37,744 represented loans from 

 central and other societies, and the net capital was therefore Rs. 82,10,829. 



Central Societies. — The scheme for the inauguration of a provincial 

 bank in the presidency was again considered but it was decided that it 

 should remain abeyant for the present. The majority of the central banks 

 have no difficult}' in raising sufficient capital locall3^ Two new central 

 banks were established during the year, but one former central bank came 

 to be classed as a non-agricultural society and the total number of these 

 banks was therefore 39 on 30 June 1916. Their working capital rose during 

 the year from Rs. 40,88,000 to Rs. 46,00,000 ; their paid-up share capital 

 from Rs. 4,89,000 to Rs. 6,52,000 ; and their deposits from Rs. 33,69,000 to 

 Rs. 37,61,000. Their total fluid resources on^o June 1916 amounted to 

 Rs. 8,41,984. Outstanding loans amounted to Rs. 37,67,420 as against 

 Rs. .31,01,490 in 1915. Loans granted in 1915-1916 amounted to 

 Rs. 13,95,000 ; and therefore the total amount of loans on 30 June 1916 was 

 Rs. 51,62,420. In 1915-1916 a sum of Rs., 7,91,607 was collected towards 

 principal from the debtor societies, including central societies, as against 

 Rs. 2,68,000 in 1914-1915. On the whole there was a great improvement 

 in the working of the central banks. 



Supervising Unions. — The number of these increased in 1915-1916 

 from eight to twelve, and their membership from 139 to 177. 



Agricidtiiral Societies. — There were fewer registrations of new agricul- 

 tural societies in 1915-1916 than in previous years. Their number rose 

 from 1,853 to 2,063, thus increasing by 210; and their membership rose 

 from 85,515 to 94,006, thus increasing b}' 10 per cent, instead of by 16 

 per cent, as in the previous year. The combined working capital rose from 

 Rs. 42,74,969 to Rs. 56,93,529, increasing b}' about S per cent. Of the 

 2,067 societies 1,860 are affiliated to central banks. The average capital 

 of a society decreased from Rs. 2,844 in 1915 to Rs. 2,754 in 1916. Loans 

 issued to members amounted to Rs. 16,86,000 in 1915-1916, as against Rs. 

 15,73,000 in 1914-1915. Loans amounting to Rs. 14,11,991 were repaid by 

 members in 1915-1916 as against Rs. 7,73,900 in 1914-1915. On 30 June 

 1 91 6 outstanding loans to members amounted to Rs. 49,78,046, of wliich 

 Rs. 13,24,388 or 26.6 per cent, were overdue. The percentage overdue on 

 30 June 1915 was 28.4. There was thus an improvement in realizations. 



Two new grain banks were formed, and one new- supply society which 

 made the total number of suppl}- societies thrj^. An interesting experi- 

 ment was the formation of the Khelar Irrigation Society. 



IS on- Agricultural Societies. — The number of the credit societies hav- 

 ing limited liability, which form the great majority of the non-agricultural 



