December, 1910.] 



523 Agricultural Finance <fc Co-operation. 



the settlement of this question definite 

 progress has been made. Two new 

 unions, at Rahika in Darbhauga and 

 Banki-Dompara in Outtack, have been 

 added to those formed last year in 

 Mindapore and Khulna. None of these 

 unions is old enough to furnish material 

 for definite conclusions, but their 

 working, which has been reviewed in 

 detail in the report, goes far to justify 

 the belief that the villagers can rise 

 from co-operation within their village to 

 the combinations of societies in a larger 

 federation. During the year some modi- 

 fications of the original union scheme 

 were devised to suit the conditions of 

 backward tracks, It is hoped that it 

 will now be possible to make rapid pro- 

 gress in the formation of unions in areas 

 where the members of societies have 

 acquired sufficient experience. 



It is, however, apparent that the per- 

 fecting of local unions will not finally 

 dispose of the problem of organisation. 

 Financial requirements alone will make 

 it necessary before very long to attempt 

 a wider combination. The most probable 

 solution of the problem appears to be 

 the formation of something in the nature 

 of a provincial banking union located in 

 Calcutta, which will connect the different 

 local and district unions with one 

 another, and will also link the urban 

 with the rural organisation. In some 

 quarters it has been suggested that 

 such an organisation should be estab- 

 lished at once ; but the time has not 

 yet come for an attempt to create 

 any form of central machinery on a pro- 

 vincial scale. The subject will, however, 

 be kept prominently in view, and the 

 Registrar should examine it thoroughly 

 in consultation with the non-officials 

 who are taking a leading part in the 

 movement. 



Of the work in general one striking 

 feature is the facility with which money 

 is now obtained from outside sources. 

 Local capital has also increased greatly, 

 and it is satisfactory to observe that 

 the unions are likely to attract this 

 capital in increasing sums. But perhaps 

 the most encouraging individual feature 

 of the year's work is the growing ten- 

 dency of members to make deposits in 

 their societies, The total amount depo- 

 sited has trebled itself during the year, 

 having risen from Rs. 21,926 to Rs. 64,349. 

 These figures are conclusive evidence 

 of the growing faith of the members in 

 these societies. 



Moral Effects. 

 The examples cited to illustrate the 

 moral effects of the village societies are 

 interesting. There can be no doubt 

 that a co-operaitve society can, and, if 



conducted in a proper spirit, will extend 

 its activity in the village in various 

 directions ; and there is every reason to 

 hope that in time such societies will 

 exercise a beneficial influence outside 

 the purely economic field. 



In previous reports it has been pointed 

 out, that without popular interest behind 

 it, the co-operative movement can never 

 be a power in the laud, and stress has 

 been laid on the want of honorary 

 organisers. The Lieutenant-Governor 

 regrets to note that the number of non- 

 official workers is still small, and that 

 men with influence in the districts are 

 on the whole apathetic. While cordially 

 expressing his obligation to the small 

 band of non-officials who are furthering 

 the movement, and without whose 

 assistance no progress would have been 

 possible, His Honour desires again to 

 emphasise the increasing need of 

 non-official organisers. District officers 

 might render considerable assistance 

 by encouraging suitable men to come 

 forward. 



PUNJAB CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, 



Great Development. 



Lahore, October 31st, 



During the year ending 31st July, 1910, 

 the number of Co-operative Societies 

 has risen from 216 to 706 with working 

 capital from R8 lakhs to nearly R16 

 lakhs, and membership from 23,000 to 

 over 38,000. There has not only been 

 a marked expansion of Co-operative 

 Societies, but vast possibilities of co- 

 operation are being opened up. In the 

 Chenab Colony they have brought agri- 

 cultural machinery, opened shops and 

 traded in wood and cattle. At Punja- 

 war, in Hoshiarpur, the local Society is 

 taking combined action to protect the 

 village from erosion. At Chuheke, in 

 Jullundur, a Bank, which started with 

 a capital of R9. 20, provides scholar- 

 ships at the Middle English School. In 

 many places, lor the settlement of local 

 disputes, the Bank Committees act as 

 standing panchayats. The co-operative 

 storage and sale of grain is becoming 

 popular among even the Janglis of the 

 Rechna Doab- 



The Lieutenant-Governor, in his re- 

 view, says that he looks to the co- 

 operative movement as one means of 

 securing the erection of farmers' col- 

 lecting elevators in the great wheat 

 exporting tracts, and these signs are, 

 therefore, very encouraging. Bags of 

 rupees crusted with mud have been also 

 deposited in these Banks, and their 

 restoration to currency shows that the 

 co-operative movement is beginning to 

 tap hoarded wealth, 



