148 



AGKlGULTtTRAL DEPRESSION IN GERMANY. [Sept. 1896. 



Suggestions of a more practical kind, but based on the same 

 arguments, have often been made to the effect that agriculturists 

 should establish large co-operative flour mills and bakeries in 

 their di«^tricts, and sell bread instead of corn, in this way 

 securing for themselves the profits of the miller and baker. 

 Some CO operative bakeries are already in existence in country 

 districts, and have given very good results, but up to the present 

 they have only worked for local consumption. Witii the pre- 

 sent facilities for transport, however, it ought not to be a 

 difficult matter to extend their operations to the towns, as has 

 been done in the case of butter by the dairy associations, which 

 exist in great numbers throughout Prussia. 



As regards this question of co-operation, in a report by Sir 

 Charles Oppenheimer,* it is stated that, while in Prussia an 

 attempt is being made to organise chambers of agriculture, in 

 Bavaria agricultural unions, which have existed there for many 

 years, are being re-organised and ti-ansformed into a free agricul- 

 tural society approved by the State and in close connexion with 

 State officials. It will in future consist of district unions, to 

 which every community can send one representative. At each 

 district union, business departments for membership, for effecting 

 the sale of agricultural products and the purchase of agricultural 

 implements, as well as for insurance, are to be formed. The 

 district union can also create further sub-committees, and it is 

 desired to bring about a closer intercourse with the farmers 

 through their representatives. Above the district committee is 

 the committee of the province, which has to look after the 

 agricultural interests of the province. Above these in their turn 

 is to be the Bavarian Agricultural Council, consisting of 56 

 members. The duties of this Agricultural Council are enu- 

 merated as follows : — To guard t)ie entire agricultural interests 

 of the country ; to take the initiative in suitable undertakings 

 for the union, and to co-operate therein ; to send in reports 

 about legal or other measures which touch the field of agri- 

 culture ; also on topics such as credit, trade, customs and taxes, 

 as well as commerce, in so far as they exercise an influence on 

 apfriculture. The aojricultural council has to form ten business 

 branches and is to organise also an office for the exchange of 

 merchandise. 



The arguments of both sides on the currency question were 

 heard in full in the sittings of the Commission appointed in 

 1894 to consider "the means of raising and establishing the 

 value of silver." This Commission was presided over by Count 

 Posadowsky-Wehner, the Imperial Secretary of the Treasury, 

 who stated that the Imperial Government would submit the 

 proposals made during the proceedings of the Commission to a 

 careful examination, and that any proposals which were found 

 to be practicable and promising would form the basis of a 

 further consideration of the question. 



* Foreign Office Heport, Annual Scries, No. 1586. Puice 3c?. 



