THE AGRICULTURAIv ORGANIZATION SOCIETY 23 



c) Agricultural Credit Societies. 



The forty-eight co-operative credit societies lent during the year the 

 total sum of £ 1,087. ^^^^ is a very limited success and one which has 

 little relation to the demand for credit : many farmers, small holders and 

 others are seriously hampered because they cannot obtain temporary 

 loans on easy terms. The Agricultural Organization »Society decided in 

 1915-1916 on an investigation into the causes of the slow progress of agri- 

 cultural credit societies. 



d) The Agricultural and General Co-operative Insurance Society. 



This is the single insurance society affiliated to the Agricultural Or- 

 ganization Society. The year 1915 showed an increase of 25 per cent, in 

 its premium income and the gross sums insured against fire amounted 

 to over £4,000,000. A 5 per cent, dividend was declared on shares and 

 a bonus of 5 per cent, on life premiums. The net claims on account of fires 

 were considerably higher than the average of recent years, so, although the 

 society had worked at a profit, no bonus was declared to the holders of 

 fire policies in accordance with the practice which has been such an inter- 

 esting feature in the society's work since its formation. In consequence 

 too of the unsettled state of the investment market, the investment re- 

 serve fund was increased, and the balance remaining was carried forward. 



e) The Farmers' Central Trading Board. 



This board is a central wholesale establishment for all kinds of agri- 

 cultural requirements and it receives applications for membership from 

 societies affiliated to the Agricultural Organization Society. In 1915 it 

 absorbed the Agricultural Co-operative Federation and its headquarters 

 were then transferred to lyondon. 



It quickly became apparent that since many districts obtain their 

 agricultural supplies from other ports than I/ondon some local organiza- 

 tion would be useful. North- Western, North-Eastern and Welsh Sections 

 of the board therefore came into being. 



The increase of sales in 1915 was satisfactory' and they promised to 

 be yet more considerable in the following year. 



§ 4. A Direction of Future Effort. 



The Agricultural Organization Society is especially desirous of pro- 

 moting in England and Wales continuous crops and the co-operative 

 ownership of farm implements. To this end Mr. T. Wibberley, who had 

 had much experience of such work in Ireland, was sent on a lecture tour 

 through the English and Welsh counties in the winter of 1915-1916. We 

 quote from his report : 



" Undoubtedly in comparison with other English industries agricul- 

 ture is in many places very backward, but the recognition of this fact by 



