THE DISTRICT OF TRENT, A MODEL CO-OPEKAn\'E DISTRICT 



development of co-operative business has kept pace with the increase of the 

 societies and members. The amomit of cash in hand at the end of 1896 

 was 48,600 crs., at the end of 1906 it was 193,600 crs ; in 1911 and 1912 it 

 was about 183 ,000 crs. The credits rose from269,ooocrs.in 1896 to 3,087,000 crs. 

 in 1906, and to 3,416,440 crs. in 1912; the goods account increased from 

 691,000 crs.in 1896 to 2,755,800 crs. in 1906 and to 3,579,328 crs. ini9i2 ; 

 the personal estate and securities increased in amount from 61,000 crs. 

 in 1896 to 1,326,300 crs. in 1906 and 1,530,493 crs. in 1912. 



Tabi^ VI. — Situation of the Dislrihutive Consortiums. 



Crediis. 



Debits. 



The total credits increased from 1,070,000 crs. in 1896 to 7,362,400 crs. 

 in 1906 and 8,709,644 crs. ini9i2; while the total debits of the consortiums 

 increased from9i9,ooo crs. in 1896 to 6,10 6,000 crs. in 1906 and to 6,900,500 crs. 

 in 1912, leaving net amounts of share capital, of 151,000 crs. in 1896, 

 1,255,700 crs. in 1906 and 1,809,117 in 1912. 



These last figures sho^^' the financial strength of the co-operative 

 institutes; it must also be remembered that, besides these 1,800,000 crs., 

 there is a guarantee fund of about ten million crowns, as security for the en- 

 gagements of the Consortiums to outsiders in case of failure (i). In the 

 district of Trent the legal form chosen for the distributive consortiums was 



(i) Konkurs, according to the Austrian legal term. 



