PELLERVO— ITS AIMS AND WORK 191 



these local societies were established, and on 

 December 1st, 1903, the total number stood at 

 341, the membership being over 20,000. 



The creation of purely co-operative bodies for 

 agricultural purposes was only rendered possible, 

 in September, 1901, by the passing of a law 

 giving them legal status, and it was with the 

 making of this law that the real activity of the 

 Pellervo commenced. Before the year closed 

 there had been established in connection with 

 the Pellervo a Central Co-operative Commercial 

 Bureau for the collective purchase of manures, 

 feeding-stuffs, seed, grain, salt, machines, petro- 

 leum, dairy requirements, etc., for agricultural 

 societies grouping the orders of their individual 

 members. It is especially interesting to know 

 that the example set by this Central Bureau 

 inspired the farmers of Northern Finland and 

 Lapland to arrange for a similar organization 

 on their own account, so that a wholesale society 

 for the purchase of agricultural necessaries has 

 been started in the little town of Kemi, which 

 is within the Arctic Circle. 



It was felt, however, from the outset, that 

 no great progress would be made until there 

 had been set up a Central Co-operative Bank 

 which would be able to give practical assistance 

 in the formation throughout Finland of local 



