1920.] Progress of Agricultural Co-operation. 



431 



and needs of each area, whether geographical, physical, or 

 deterniin(Hl hv local predilections or prejudices. 



This was the main problem which confronted the Governing 

 Bodv in 1919 on the side of organisation as distinct from propa- 

 ganda. In each area in turn it was found that the success of 

 the propaganda campaign was in direct proportion to the 

 thoroughness with which the scheme of organisation had been 

 worked out in advance. In its report for the year 1919-1920, 

 which is on the eve of publication, the Society has been able to 

 announce that, with the exception of Middlesex, Huntingdon. 

 Bedfordshire, Merionethshire, Radnor, and Cornwall, in regard 

 to which important developments are under weigh, every county 

 in England and Wales is now adequately provided with large 

 co-operative farmers'' societies extending over a wide area. In 

 a number of cases the local societies have amalgamated to form 

 a single county society ; in others it is found preferable to carry 

 on two or more societies under a working arrangement which 

 provides for the definition of areas and prevents overlapping. 

 The framework is there ; the intensive development of the 

 societies is in active progress. 



The Attitude of the hig Farmers.— The policy of the Society 

 in advocating the devlopment of large general trading 

 societies in contradistinction to the village societies, which 

 are so marked a feature of agricultural co-operation in 

 Denmark and Ireland, has met with criticism, particularly from 

 the industrial co-operative movement, wdiose problems are essen- 

 tially different in character, and has also led in sonie quarters 

 to the wdiolly erroneous impression that the movement in this 

 country has been oriented in the direction of the big farmers to 

 the gradual exclusion of small farmers and small holders. It is 

 true that, whereas in the earlier stages the movement was mainly 

 confined to small farmers, as under pre-war conditions the larger 

 producers could perceive little direct advantage in co-operative 

 methods, the greater stress of post-war conditions has induced 

 even the biggest farmers not only to join co-operative societies 

 for trading purposes but to take a definite lead in their formation 

 and development. 



The advantages of this change of attitude on their part are 

 far-reaching. To the mind of the average farmer theoretical 

 considerations and logical deductions make little appeal unless 

 they are backed by the opinion of those wdiom he knows and 

 trusts. The best propaganda speech that can be delivered at 

 any farmers' meeting held in the cause of agricul[ui-al co-opera- 



