134 ~- 



for the farmers pending the passing into law of the 

 measure proposed, which latter seems, for the mo- 

 ment, to have been abandoned. 



Abnormal circumstances have forced activity along 

 other lines since the proposal was first mooted, and 

 beyond the temporary solution through the help of the 

 Banco de la Nacion, there has been no further evidence 

 of any preoccupation for any permanent measures on. 

 the part of the State. 



The proposed Agricultural Bank has had to be 

 abandoned again ; it has not been found pnossible to 

 bring it into life, to-day, any more than it was under 

 previous C4overnments . It is an old recourse revived 

 under every change of Government, under one guise or 

 the other. When put into practice it has twice failed, 

 and only an exceptionally sanguine temperament can 

 think of carrying the proposal into existence with any 

 hope of success. 



CAN BANKS REPLACE COMMERCIAL CREDIT 

 FOR FARMERS? 



If it needs but a stroke of the pen, roaghly speak- 

 ing, on the part of the E.P. to do away with much of 

 this money-lending-cum-grain-broking business, given 

 the facilities existing for such action under the laws at 

 present in force, it requires apparently a considerably 

 more onerous labour when it comes to the point of pro- 

 viding something efficient to replace such creditors. 



We have been promised new banks, but pending 

 their establishment . . . . ? In the meantime with very 

 little modification the existing Bank of the Nation is 

 called upon to accomplish all that the newly establish- 

 ed Agricultural banks are to undertake; these, in any 

 case, cannot be firmly established and of full utility in 

 a space of a year or two, and so the " Banco de la Na- 

 cion", whose charter casually establishes those very 

 duties for which the new banks are to be created, is to 

 make very effort once again ! 



It would seem more logical, that if for any reason 

 the charter of the Banco de la Nacion is found to be 

 deficient in respect to agricultural loans, which up to 

 date does not seem so apparent, steps should first be 

 taken to remedy this, and failing these then remedy 

 should be sought in the establishing of other institu- 

 tions, though, when all is said and done, if they are to 

 cover the same ground they only imply additional 

 working expenses to add to the already heavy cost of 



