IIepokt of the Department oe Agriculture- 507 



The actual luimber of bags of maize received from members 

 during the 1920 reaping season was 181,300 more than in the follow- 

 ing season (1,502,735 against 1,321,427 bags). The (juantity sold 

 during the calendar year 1!)20 was considerably less than in 1921, as 

 the societies had exceptionally large stocks on hand at 31st December, 

 1920. The turnovei' in tobacco continues to increase, 1,048,852 lb. 

 more were sold in 1921 than in 1919, and 2,309,872 lb. more than in 

 1918. The Magaliesl)erg Ko-operatieve Tabakplanters Vereniging 

 received from its members during the 1921-22 season 6,553,710 lb. 

 of tobacco. The turnover in implements, etc., was less in 1921 than 

 in the previous year, owing partly to the depression in the produce 

 market and pai'tly to societies having restiicted the credit gi'anted 

 to their members. 



5. Mcnihcrs/i i/j. — At 3)0tli June, 1922, the total membership of the 

 societies in active operation was 12,554, as compared with 11,893 

 the previous year. Additions to membership during the year under 

 review were 1382, and withdrawals 721, the latter being made up of: 

 resignations, 484; deaths, 50; expulsions, 53; and two societies dis- 

 solved, 134. 



(i. /^rof/rcss iikkIc hi/ Sorlefiey. — The subjoined statement shows 

 the financial position of the individual societies. The information 

 given has reference, in tlie majority of cases, to the financial year 

 1920-21 which in the case of nearly all the societies ends on 31st May. 



(d) M<n:('. — With one exception, all the maize societies advanced 

 more on the maize received by them during the 1920-21 season than 

 the maize actually realized, the total amount so over-advanced being 

 about £'350, 000. In teinis of the regulations, the annmnts over- 

 advanced must be repaid by the members who received them, and 

 although the Land liank allowed a ])eriod of five years foi' the re])ay- 

 ment of the amount involved, the financial position of nearly all the 

 maize societies was considerably weakened, llie large amounts out- 

 standing on nicniheis" ;icc(Hints in respect of farming recpiisites was 

 always a serious handicaj) to the progress of the majority of the 

 older societies. It is regretted that these outstandings have greatly 

 increased as a result of the excessive credit granted against the 

 surplus members were expected to receive on their maize at the end 

 of the season, i.e. the price realized over and above the advance 

 made at the commencement of tlie season. In the case of one society 

 alone, where, through hard woik and considerable expense both to the 

 society and this Division, the outstandings among members in 

 respect of farming requisites were reduced to a little over £12,01)0, 

 the credit against the expecteil suri»lus given during one season 

 (1920-21) increased these outstanding again to nearly £44.000. As 

 the over-advances made by tlie society during the same season 

 amounted to £4(i,700, the total amount owing by members was about 

 £91,000. 



The credit system, as is well known, was the nuiin cause of all 

 the failures in the past. It weakens the society financially on account 

 of the bad debts incurred ; it causes members who are in need of 

 cash, after reaping, to sell their produce outside the society u])on 

 finding that the advances due to them are being withlield in payment 

 of their accounts; and it further retaids the j)rogress of tlie society 



