46 IXFORMATIOX RELATING TO CREDIT 



" Appro VAX,. 



" To the Dominion Bank. 



" The St. Andrews Rural Credit Society hereby approves the foregoing 

 apphcation and guarantees the payment of the said loan 



"Passed by the Directors this 15th day of June 1917. 



F. W. Hooker, CffAS. H. Gifford. 



President. Secretarv. 



It is an interesting circumstance that a farmer whose application for a 

 loan is granted uses the loan only as he needs it and pays interest only on 

 the used portion. 



Since the vSt. Andrews society was founded new societies have been or- 

 ganized at Langruth, Oakville, Oak Lake and Biscarth. P'armers who have 

 experienced the advantages of the credit afforded are the best propagandists 

 of the movement. 



The Rural Credits Act also provides that the societies may act as agents 

 for the members in buying supplies and selling products,, and may promote 

 co-operation for the improvement of the conditions" of farm life, endea\-our- 

 ing to extend their activity to all residents in their districts. 



An important work is directly encouraged by the appointement of gra- 

 duates of agricultural colleges to the directorate of so cieties.^ These' men 

 will do the same work as the agricultural representative in Ontario and tlie 

 county agent in the ITnited States, but they have at their service an instru- 

 ment which will much increase the rapidity and effectiveness of their ac- 

 tion. The Rural Credit Societies will bring them into immediate touch with 

 many of the farmers who need their help[most. The following are a few 

 of the directions in which it is suggested that they ma}- render service : they 

 raiay help the farmer to secure good seed and^better stock ; manage or advise 

 in the management of co-operative buying or selling associations ; give de- 

 monstrations of various farming operations, such as the elimination of go- 

 phers, weeding and the controlling of plant and animal diseases ; secure 

 plans for modern farm? buildings; hold courses of lectures ; and superin- 

 tend the application of loans to the objects for' which they are intended. 



This brief anah'sis has shown that the Rural Credits Act of Manitoba 

 s of the first importance to agricultural organization. 



ITALY. 



I. THE IXSTITUTIOX OF A SYSTEM OF CURRENT ACCOUNTS AND POSTAE OR- 

 DERS. — ■ Gazzetta UfficiaU del Re-no iVltalia, Rome, No. 219, 15 S^-'ptember 1917. 



By the lieutenancy decree-law of 6 September 1917, No. 1451, a system 

 of current accounts and postal orders, dependent on the Ministry of Posts 

 and Telegraphs, has been instituted in Italy. It aims at eliminating the 



