12 INFORMATION RELATING TO CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



societies, passed from 76 to 90, their membership from 15,644 to 21,029 

 and their working capital from Rs. 15,67,000 to Rs. 20,46,000. Loans 

 repaid during the year by members amounted to Rs. 13,02,992 as against 

 Rs. 9,78,627 in 1914-1915. The percentage of the amount of loans out- 

 standing at the beginning of the year and of those granted during the year 

 formed by repayments during the year was 41.08 in 1915-1916 as against 

 41. 1 in 1914-1915. 



The existence should be noticed of seven co-operative fishermen's 

 societies. The number of weavers' societies increased during the year 

 from five to 17, but four of them had not yet become active on 30 June 

 1916. At that date one cattle insurance society had begun operations. 



Reserve Funds. — The following table shovv^s the reserve funds of the 

 three kinds of societies at the beginning and end of 1915-1916. 



On I July 1915 On 30 June 1916 



Rs. Rs. 



Central Banks 75,072 1,11,901 



Non- Agricultural Societies . . 64,693 91.956 



Agricultural Societies , 4,54,798 6,28,050 



The figures for 30 June 191 6 exclude appropriations to reserves from 

 the year's profits. In this year the central banks made a net profit of 

 Rs. 1,08,538 ; the non-agricidtural societies one of Rs. 1,03,961 ; the agri- 

 cultural societies one of Rs. 1,92,498. 



Thus the co-operative movement is acquiring public favour more 

 and more, a fact proved by the increased inflow of deposits ; and its impor- 

 tance to agricultural development in the presidency is being n'^tlceably 

 accentuated. 



FRENCH PROTKCTORATE OP MOROCCO. 



THE THRIFT SOCIETIES. 



A dahir of 26 May 1917 has extended to Morocco the native thrift so- 

 cieties, as these exist in Algeria and Tunisia. It is their object : 



1st. To enable native cultivators, by loans in money and kind, to 

 maintain and develop their crops and plantations and to iinprove and in- 

 crease their agricultural implements and their flocks and herds ; 



" 2nd. By means of loans or temporary relief to help poor cultivators 

 suffering seriousl}^ from diseases, epizooty, invasions of grasshoppers or 

 crickets or other disastrous events ; 



3rd, To rescue native cultivators from the evil practices of usury and 

 engrossment, superseding the natives when necessary and taking in their place 

 all action tending to annul or reduce their engagements to outsiders who have 



