94 REPORT — 1841. 



is gratifying to find that the sum of 44,8 Hi. has been deposited by farmers, as the 

 money-lenders just described were persons holding from twenty to fifty acres of 

 land ; the greater part of this sum was therefore formerly employed in usurious 

 practices, to which the farmers now prefer the certainty of 5 or 6 per cent., without 

 any trouble or risk. The sum deposited by manufacturers is trifling, being little 

 more than one- seventh of the agricultural amount. It appears that 329 servants 

 have deposited 7157^. ; these depositors are not numerous, except in those loan so- 

 cieties where small sums are received at a lesser interest, until they amount to rtl., 

 when a debenture may be purchased and the interest increased to 6 per cent. De- 

 positors of 50/. are the most numerous class ; Mr. Porter thinks them desirable only 

 at the commeneement of such an institution, and wishes them to be gradually paid 

 oflF, in order to make room for the depositors of smaller sums. The greatest number 

 of loans have been applied, it is believed, to the most useful purposes. In the year 



1840 there were issued — t a ^ 



Loans. Amount. 



For the purchase of horses, cows, pigs, &c 37,766 £152,875 



For the purchase of seed, manure, implements, &c., and 



other agricultural purposes 9,247 32,574 



Total 47,013 .£185,449 



For the purchase of provisions the number of loans has been 23,363, amounting 

 to 77,5 lOZ. Loans for the payment of rent and debts are not generally encouraged ; 

 nevertheless, there are many instances of the best effects from both of these objects. 

 For the purpose of dealing in various ways, the sum of 53,938/. has been issued, in 

 14,295 loans. This class of borrowers is very numerous. 



The following is a return of the loan funds whose directors have expressed their 

 conviction of the benefits conferred by these institutions in various ways, viz. — 

 32 Loan funds bear testimony to advantages conferred on farmers in their crops and 



tillage. 

 52 „ „ to small farmers in the purchase of cattle. 

 64 „ „ in supply of provision without usurious prices. 

 57 „ ,) by promotion of industrious and economic habits. 

 48 ., „ by benefits to tradesmen, mechanics and dealers. 

 98 „ „ by general advantage to the community. 



The following number of institutions complain of difficulties : — 



5 Difficulties arising from opposition. 

 17 „ „ from want of funds. 



4 „ „ from improvident borrowers. 

 81 state that little or no difficulty has been experienced. 

 10 complain of loss of time to borrowers and loss of money to sureties. 



1 speaks of intemperance and fraud. 



9 mention the necessity of pawning to pay instalments. 

 ■91 state that there were little or no evils apparent. 



The agricultural loan funds at Tyrrell's Pass and Moate are the most extensive, 

 and a knowledge of their judicious management may lead others to follow their ex- 

 ample. The first extends its operations over four hundred square miles ; it has em- 

 ployed a Scotch agriculturist, and furnishes seeds to farmers. It also supports from 

 its profits an infant school, in which 120 children are educated ; a platting school 

 for Irish Leghorn hats and bonnets has been commenced, and the manufacture of those 

 articles from grass and rye-straw is of acknowledged beauty. A Ladies' Society is 

 connected with the loan fund, which distributed at Christmas last 202/. worth 

 of clothing, and 177 stones of wool were lent on three months' credit, and above 

 40/. given in premiums. The report of the agriculturists is most satisfactory. A 

 meal-store was opened at the most trying season of the year, and employment af- 

 forded to 5229, who, with their families, constituted an aggregate of 19,795 souls, 

 all deriving benefit from the employment aflbrded to one or more members of their 

 families. The Moate Loan Fund has allocated 50/. per annum to an agricultural 

 school. It is the only one in Leinster, and if properly supported by the landed pro- 

 prietors, will doubtless prove a great benefit to the farming population. The sum 

 of 80/. has been given as premiums to the farmers in those parishes from which the 

 loan fund derives its profits. Forty pounds were also given to the Ladies' Chari- 



