16 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



out, is coming into existence. Old traditions and ancient 

 prejudices which had led each farmer or peasant to act for 

 himself, to keep to himself, and to regard his neighbour with 

 distrust are disappearing in favour of united action for 

 common benefits. 



Self-dependence may promote a feeling of independence ; 

 but in the agricultural industry it has its disadvantages. 

 Self-help is excellent so far as it leads a man to make the most 

 of his opportunities ; it is less commendable when it leads 

 him to think of self only. From the latter point of view 

 mutual-help is preferable ; and it is this broader and still 

 more praiseworthy principle that is at the root of agricultural 

 organisation. 



Influence on the Individual. 



Co-operative credit, which is more especially based on the 

 mutual-help principle, has conferred on the individual, not 

 alone material advantages which he could not have secured 

 for himself, but moral advantages that may be of still greater 

 value to him as a man and a citizen. 



The security on which a Raiffeisen rural credit society 

 advances loans is the good character of the would-be borrower 

 — his reputation for industry, honesty, sobriety, and trust- 

 worthiness in general. Without these qualities he stands no 

 chance of getting a loan, since his associated neighbours 

 controlling the society are not likely, under their obligation 

 of unlimited liability, to run any risk in lending to persons 

 in whom they have no confidence. 



So to those who may be endangering their good character 

 a direct incentive is offered to stop in time and mend their 

 ways ; and the moral effect of such incentive on the indivi- 

 dual, as the outcome of the organisation movement, is known 

 to be great indeed. 



Other Advantages. 



Under the influence, again, of the new movement, men of 

 diverse political and religious views, or of different social 



