488 Small Holdings, etc., Credit Societies, [sept., 



There are about 160 of these societies in England and Wales. 

 In this group are also included Dairy, Poultry, and Egg Col- 

 lecting Societies and societies for the sale of agricultural pro- 

 duce. The largest of these is the Eastern Counties Farmers' 

 Co-operative Association (Reg. No. 4,122, Suffolk), whose 

 sales in 1908 amounted to ,£212,753. 



Agricultural, c>c., Societies. — Societies for the promotion 

 of agriculture, arboriculture, and horticulture can be regis- 

 tered under the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, and the Special 

 Authority dated 23rd March, 1877, limitations revised 

 20th January, 1881, and the authority extended to arboricul- 

 ture 9th January, 1907. Fourteen societies established under 

 this authority are now upon the register. Of this number 

 10 societies are for the purpose of providing allotments for 

 their members and one is a re-afforesting association. The 

 remaining three are for the promotion of agriculture and 

 horticulture in general terms. Four societies have upwards 

 of 100 members. One society owns land valued at £q6/\. 



Cattle Insurance Societies. — Cattle Insurance Societies can 

 be registered under the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, for the 

 purpose of insurance against loss of neat cattle, sheep, lambs, 

 swine, horses, and other animals by death from disease 01 

 otherwise. Only members of societies can effect in- 

 surances. The insurance may be to any amount. The 

 liability of members is not limited, but practically the risks 

 are small. 



There are 61 societies at present on the register, distributee 

 among the following counties :— Cambridge 2, Chester 1, 

 Derby 3, Gloucester 6, Hertford 1, Huntingdon 1, Lancas- 

 ter 2, Leicester 1, Lincoln 21, Northampton 2, Northumber- 

 land 3, Shropshire 6, Warwick 1, Wilts 2, Worcester 2, 

 York 5, Flint 1, and the Channel Islands 1. 



Two societies are for the insurance of horses only ; 23 foi 

 neat cattle only; and 32 for swine only. Three societies 

 insure horses and neat cattle, and 1 society insures neat cattle 

 and swine. 



Only 11 societies have a membership of 100 or upwards. 

 Twenty-four societies have funds amounting to ;£ioo 01 

 upwards; the two highest have ,£1,090 and £1,086 respec- 

 tively. 



