10 AUSTRIA - CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



favourable situation of the market, cannot immediately sell at a fair price 

 and their general meetings have a generally instructive and salutary efiPect 

 on the peasants. The federation, by creating two co-operative dairies, has 

 placed them in a position to sell their milk easily and at good prices. The 

 dairies stimulate them to improve their livestock, to increase it and to 

 transform the less productive vineyards into pasture land. 



The federation, by means of the institution of a cellar at Scodavacca 

 and a warehouse for sales at Goritz, has put the peasants in a position to 

 sell their wine at profitable prices. Silk cocoons, which represent for the 

 small farmer a source of revenue of the first importance, are sold by the 

 federation to the silk mills. The co-operative societies for purchase and sale 

 provide the peasants with artificial manure, sulphur, sulphuric acid, cattle 

 foods etc ; and arrange the sale of their members' agricultural produce, 

 thus putting a stop to usury and other evils which tended to reduce the 

 income from the farms. The nvunerous livestock insurance cooperative so- 

 cieties are governed by rules approved by the State, save the peasants from 

 pecuniary loss in case of the death or compulsory slaughter of their livestock 

 and incite them to give their livestock better treatment. 



Finally, the peasants' and labourers' associations have to make provision 

 for education in order that the instruction of the people may be advanced. 

 Through the medium of these societies, the federation can more easily 

 supervise the peasants who have become small landlords, incite them to 

 work and instruct them. 



Thus, the federation, though with Hmited material resources at its com- 

 mand, has largely contributed, through the disinterestedness and indefatig- 

 able persistence of its of&cers, especially Monsignor Faidutti, the pre- 

 sident, and Signor Meyer, the general secretary, to the improvement of 

 the conditions of the existence of the peasants, who, a few generations ago 

 lived in great misery. 



Certainly, there is still much to be done ; but the results up to the 

 present obtained justify the hope that in the near future the federation 

 will attain its noble end, that is to say the personal emancipation and the 

 economic independence of the peasants. 



