GERMANY - CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



effectual method of checking the exodus from the country and inducing 

 labourers to settle there permanently is to promote the erection of healthy 

 dwellings in accordance with modern requirements. Building, of which the 

 supply in cities exceeds the demand, is still urgently needed in many 

 rural districts. The "Royal Prussian College of Rural Economy" {Koniglich 

 Preussisches Landes-Okonomie-KoUegiiim) which placed on its agenda the 

 subject of the promotion of the construction of workmen's houses, occupied 

 itself, in the session of February 5th., especially with the question of hov\- 

 to raise the funds for this purpose. This is the most difficult point, 

 because, on account of the great local differences, the present organisation 

 of credit is not sufficient to supply capital for the purpose. The most 

 important bodies supplying credit have hitherto been the provincial instit- 

 utions of insurance against disablement and old age {Landesversich- 

 rungsanstalten) . But of the 213,000,000 marks hitherto devoted by them 

 to the construction of workmen's houses, only 17,000,000 marks ha\'e 

 been spent in country' districts. 



The Preussischcs-Landes-Okonomie-Kollegmm, after a long and lively 

 discussion, decided to request the Department of Agriculture to appoint 

 a commission to ascertain the possibility of raising larger sums for the 

 construction of agricultural labourers' houses wherever they may be 

 necessary. 



(d) Sick Nurses for the Country. — Urban centres are often generall}- 

 much better provided than country districts with assistance in case of 

 illness or accidents. A country doctor in a thinty populated district has 

 such a large tract of country under his care that his assistance often 

 comes late. The evil might be obviated by the appointment of properly in- 

 structed nurses to assist and complete the work of the doctor. Several 

 associations have taken up the subject, more especially the '' German 

 Association for the Welfare of Rural Districts " {Deutscher Vercin fur 

 Idndliche Wohlfahrts- und Heimatpflege), which is endeavouring to organise 

 regular rural assistance for the sick. In the plenary meeting of this asso- 

 ciation held on February 19th., the work done by the provincial section 

 of Silesia was especially described, as it might be taken as a model for 

 similar work in other provinces. In Silesia, instruction was given in the 

 public hospitals to many women and girls of all ranks, and their sub- 

 sequent work proved excellent. The course of instruction, lasting eight weeks, 

 was free. Half the expense, which was altogether between 120 and 180 mks. 

 was borne by the Provincial Institute for Disablement and Old Age Insur- 

 ance. The Chamber of Agriculture and other associations also contributed. 



(e) The Condition of Women Field-Workers. ■ — After examination of 

 the condition of women workers in cities, the Permanent Committee 

 for the Defence of the Interests of Working Women {Stdndiger Ausschuss 

 zur Forderung der Arbeiterinnen- Inter essen) has also undertaken an enquiry' 

 into the mode of life of women field-workers in order to ascertain why women 

 and girls emigrate into cities, whether field work is adapted to them, 

 and if it can even be made agreeable by means of suitable reforms. 

 This enquiry is not yet concluded, but the results hitherto attained were 



