[Extracts from the Proceedings of the Fourth Conference of Registrars 

 of Co-operative Credit Societies, 1909 J] 



How BEST TO ENCOURAGE THE ASSISTANCE OF NON-OFFICIALS. 



The discussion was opened by the following note presented by 

 MR. BUCHAN (Bengal) in which he advocated the formation of District 

 Co-operative Committees : 



" There is no more important or more difficult question before 

 the Conference than the organisation of the future development of 

 co-operation. We have come to the stage where we must choose 

 between further officialising and more completely popularising the 

 work. Personally I consider it vital to the movement that the 

 propelling power of popular interest and enthusiasm should be applied 

 to it as soon as possible, and our principal efforts should be directed 

 to enlisting and systematising the co-operation of the people in the 

 work of organisation. I offer the following suggestions for 

 discussion : 



(2). There are certain facts which few will question: 



(a) In nearly every province the Registrar has great difficulty 

 in supervising his societies and no time for propagandist work. 

 Honorary organisers have given most valuable assistance, but their 

 number and powers are limited. 



() It is not a sound arrangement that the Registrar should be a 

 financing agency except in special cases. We want above all things 

 local capital and a machinery for attracting and dealing with it. 



(c) New forms of agricultural co-operation (productive and distri- 

 butive) should be undertaken and are in contemplation. These forms 

 present so many variations dependent on local circumstances and 



conditions of production, that without active assistance in the districts 



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the Registrar can accomplish very little. 



(d) In no country has co-operation become a force until it haa 

 become a popular movement. And so it will be in India. 



(8) We have to face then three alternatives (1) stoppage of 

 progress or development without guarantee of safety if our present 

 staff is retained ; (2) considerable increase of staff and further officiali- 

 sation of the movement, which we want to avoid ; and (3) co-opera- 

 tion with, and extensive devolution of responsibility to, unofficial 



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