1922.] The Revival of Village Indi'stries. 549 



THE 



REVIVAL OF VILLAGE INDUSTRIES: 



THE OBJECTS AND WORKING OF THE COUNTRY 

 INDUSTRIES CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED. 



A. Bowman. 



In the July issue of this Journal there airpeared an 

 article explaining the objects and working of the Rural In- 

 dustries Intelligence Bureau The following pages give a 

 short account of the work of the sister organisation, The 

 Country Industries Co-operative Society ^ Limited. 



It was felt from the first both by the Development Commis- 

 sioners and the Committee of the Rural Industries Intelligence 

 Bureau that the formation of a co-operative trading society 

 formed an essential part of any scheme for the assistance of the 

 many crafts and industries scattered over the countryside. 

 Hence the starting of the Country Industries Co-operative Society, 

 Limited, which is registered under the Industrial and Provident 

 Societies Acts, and is a business undertaking pure and simple. 

 It is the wholesale trading body for all village industries and 

 handicrafts throughout the country. The Society receives no 

 subsidy or grants from the Government. 



The members of the first Committee of Management are : — 

 Sir Charles McLeod (Chairman), The Lady Denman, Sir Ernest 

 J. P. Benn, Bart., Sir Basil E. Mayhew, Mr. Vaughan Nash, 

 Mr. J. J. Dent and Mr, T. L. Coltman. This is a committee 

 of very representative persons who give their time and services 

 to the Society without remuneration. They are so confident of 

 its ultimate success that they have a large financial interest in 

 the undertaking. 



The Society will work in close association with the Intelligence 

 Bureau. The need for such a wholesale and central trading 

 Society has long been felt, as too often the isolated, unprotected 

 and unorganised workers have had to accept whatever price they 

 could get for their products. This will now be remedied, as it 

 is the intention of the Society to organise the workers in village 

 groups, and link them up to a County Co-operative Society, so 

 that by combination and production on an economic basis they 

 will be able to hold their own with other trades and industiies. 

 This should not only secure them a fair reward for their labour, 

 but also a reasonably permanent outlet, with facilities for giving 



