INFORMATION RELATING TO CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



23 



This table shows that the accutnidated savings of peasant members 

 are beginning to assume respectable proportions. 



The continuation of the war naturally had a profound effect on co- 

 operation in these provinces. Generally speaking it took the form of 

 vague uneasiness and a half-conscious disinclination to part with money 

 or its equivalent, but in the latter part of the year there was a recovery in 

 this respect and much of the equilibrium disturbed by the war was restor- 

 ed. The cotton crop was small owing to the low prices of the previous year 

 and the rain and floods of September. The other crops did not enable 

 the cultivator to recover am^ of th ground lost in the two previous years. 

 When the year closed the indebtedness of members to primary societies had 

 increased bj^ Rs. 95,000 ; and the sum overdue had reached 17.70 lakhs, 

 having increased by Rs. 70,000. 



3. Madras. 



There were 1600 co-operative societies in the Presidencj^ on 30 June 1915 

 and 1800 on 30 June 1916. The number of new societies formed during 

 the year was 263 but 63 earlier societies were cancelled. 



The societies were chiefly' active in the matter of affording credit. 

 Generally speaking the work of the year was the further consolidation of the 

 credit movement by investing societies with the right of shareholding and the 

 function of supervision. . On 30 June igi6 there were 29 administrative 

 unions of societies — without counting Banking Unions, the Madras Provin- 

 cial Co-operative Union and the South Arcot District Supervising Union — 

 having 604 societies as their members ; while 608 societies were shareholders 

 in Central Banks. 



The following table makes clear the position at this date: 



(i) Plus 31 unions, the 604 'societies affiliated to which have a total capital of Rs. 34,34,593. 



At the end of 1915-1916 the indebtedness of members to agricultural 

 societies was Rs. 56,79,837 as against Rs. 50,85,356 at the close of the pre- 



