1922.1 The Revival of Village Industries. 3d! 



standpoint, and modern business methods will nave due regard 

 to practical local sentiment. 



The primary purpose of the Bureau is to ulTcr -'Killed advice 

 to those who are engaged in, or contemplate, the establishment 

 of commercially profitable rural industries. The following may 

 be quoted as typical subjects on which the Bureau will be able to 

 offer the considerable assistance of their wide investigations and 

 complete reference data : — 



(a) The revival of lapsed, and the extension of existing rural 

 industries on sound economic lines. 



{})) The economic possibilities of establishing, in any par- 

 ticular locality, industries hitherto carried on exclusively 

 abroad. 



(c) Commercial organization, e.g., questions (f costing, 

 designing, training, and choice of processes. 



(<i) Market intelligence, including reports on home and 

 foreign markets, freights, etc. 



(e) The decentralization of urban industries which could be 

 better carried out in rural areas. 



The policy of the Bureau will not be restricted by any rigid 

 rules or formula 1 . It is recognized that no hard and fast system 

 is suitable for, and still less can be imposed upon, every part of 

 the country. Normally, it will rest w T ith the local inhabitants to 

 take the initiative by considering what form of industry is most 

 suited to the particular local conditions, having regard to such 

 considerations as the natural sources of power, the railway ser- 

 vice, the facilities for obtaining the requisite raw materials, etc. 

 The Bureau will where desired give preliminary advice as to the 

 general principles which will probably be necessary to ensure the 

 commercial success of any scheme; when the preliminary scheme 

 has been worked out. the Bureau will be in a position to go into 

 the commercial possibilities of the proposals more closely. 



While the initial purpose of the Bureau is, as has been ex- 

 plained, to act as an expert adviser, it is recognized that in many 

 cases the successful management of newly established industries 

 may require further practical assistance in obtaining reli tBli 

 material at reasonable prices and in securing a good mark I 

 for the manufactured articles. In conjunction with the Bun au) 

 therefore, a co-operative trading society, known as the Country 

 Industries Co-operative Society, has been establisl ed also at 

 258/2(52, Westminster Bridge Boad. The working scheme pt 

 this Society will be explained in an article in a later issh< of 

 this Journal. 



