470 



Co-operative Movement in Denmark, [sept., 



the English Rochdale system. The first step was the founda- 

 tion of a co-operative supply stores about the middle of last 

 century, and this was followed in 1882 by the first co-opera- 

 tive dairy, which was started in that year by Herr Stilling 

 Andersen at Hjedding. The movement has now developed 

 so far that there is not a single matter of interest to the 

 farmer that has not become the object of co-operation. The 

 motto of co-operation in Denmark may be said to be "Each 

 for all and all for each." This applies both to the liability 

 incurred in raising the loan necessary to commence the under- 

 taking, whatever it may be, and to the division of the profits 

 of that undertaking. 



Co-operation and Small Holdings. — Before dealing with the 

 individual branches of agricultural co-operation in Denmark, 

 it is necessary to give a brief glance at the conditions under 

 which they have come into existence and flourished. A very 

 well-informed Dane, in discussing the subject, stated that, 

 in his opinion, the success of the co-operative movement in 

 Denmark was dependent on the small holdings system, and, 

 conversely, that without co-operation the system of small 

 holdings would be impossible. 



Land Legislation in Denmark. — The tenure of land in 

 Denmark is, as regards the larger estates, very similar to 

 that in England, and no special notice need be paid to it as 

 concerning the object of this report. As regards small hold- 

 ings and peasant farms, however, the position is different. All 

 land legislation in Denmark for the past hundred years has 

 tended to the formation of a peasant class owning small farms, 

 as against the formation of large estates. Thus, an estate 

 owner is encouraged to sell small holdings or farms to the 

 peasants. Once a farm is in existence it must either be kept 

 intact with all its buildings upon it, or it may be divided into 

 two or more farms each to be worked separately, but it may 

 not be incorporated into another to form one large farm. 

 Then, too, the State has established a fund to advance money 

 under very easy terms to suitable peasants to enable them to 

 purchase holdings for themselves. The peasant must have 

 saved a certain sum of money (in some cases about 10 per 

 cent, of the purchase money of the holding — which varies 

 between ^170 and ^300, including stock — is considered 



