Trade. Some of the societies have commenced the table poultry trade, a much more difficult and risky business than the egg trade, but one which can be considerably Table Poultry developed. The fowls are bought by weight, killed, plucked, and trussed ready for market in the manner taught by Irish Agricultural Organisation Society experts. The sales are steadily increasing, and profits hitherto unknown are being realised. One society reported in 1899 that in one trial consignment alone a profit of one hundred per cent over the prices that could be obtained locally was realised, but this was, of course, an exceptional experience. A further development of these societies will probably be in the direction of central federations for collecting and marketing the produce and for the fattening of poultry for the market. Two of the local societies have already commenced experiments in the fattening of fowls. Home These societies have a special significance in relation to the annual emigration from Ireland of thousands of her young women. The Home Industries of Ireland are organised to promote forms of employment which shall make it possible for these young women to support themselves at home, or at any rate provide an auxiliary wage-earning industry that can be carried on in rural districts together with work on the farm. The difficulties of organisation are very great, since the industry has in many places to be created upon nothing more definite than " a vague desire for employment on the part of the would-be workers.' The special rules of these societies state that "the objects of the society shall be to develop and improve among the members of the society home industries, such as poultry and egg production, pig rearing, knitting, lacemaking, and needlework of all kinds, weaving, wood-carving, or any other industry which may be suitably carried on in the homes of the members; to provide them with the technical instruction needed for these industries, and with the material and appliances required for them; to obtain a market for their produce, and to save for them the profits derived from its sale. One-half of the net profits of the societies, after paying 5 per cent. upon capital, is to be carried to a reserve fund until this equals the share capital, the remaining profit is to be divided amongst the members in proportion to their wages earned, their sales through or purchases from the society. No portion of the net profits, however, except interest on share and loan capital, is * Irish Agricultural Organisation Society's Report, 1904. to be allotted in cash until such time as the available cash surplus of the society is in excess of its liabilities. A number of these societies are at work, the members being mostly engaged in lacemaking, needlework, embroidery, weaving, knitting, and shirtmaking, a large number of workers being engaged in the work, whose earnings vary from 5s. to 15s. weekly. Some of the societies pay several hundreds yearly to their workers, and though the total appears small, yet when a girl is enabled to earn 7s. or 8s. weekly it means often the difference between comfort and poverty in the small farmer's home. The work itself has a refining effect upon the character; the production of a beautiful piece of lace or embroidery marks an epoch in the ordinary country girl's ideas and tastes. Here, as in other branches of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society's work, the indirect results, the reflex action upon character, are as important as the direct material gain for which the societies are ostensibly organised."* In a number of these societies the members work under the direction of an expert instructor, whose salary is met by grants from the Technical Education Department in Dublin. In some cases the members work together in rooms provided at a convent by friendly Sisters, who superintend the work of the girls and make arrangements for marketing it. Flax Four co-operative flax societies have been registered, but up to the end of 1902 only two-at Dunboe and Dromarahad started work. The object of these societies is to scutch and market flax grown by the individual members, and to assist in the improvement of its cultivation. The first one was established at Dunboe in 1900, beginning work on September 3rd of that year, and it has been so successful that in 1903 it contemplated acquiring another mill. The total capital at the end of 1902 was only £16. 5s., paid up by 63 members on 65 shares, and this is found to be sufficient at present. The members grow and supply the flax to the mill, which charges for scutching it and markets the flax, the amount realised being divided among the members in proportion to the value of the flax supplied by each. It is estimated that the average price realised in 1902 by the proprietary mills in the district was less by 6s. per cwt. than that obtained by the co-operators. This improved price obtained by Co-operation is stated to be the result of improved cultivation of the flax under the advice of an expert, the payment of weekly wages instead of the usual piecework system, and the use of directly imported seeds and suitable manures procured by the society. The total net profit of the *Irish Agricultural Organisation Society's Report for 1902. Dunboe Society amounted in 1902 to £161, but this large profit is partly due to the fact that the manager of the society is an expert whose salary is paid, not by the society, but out of grants made by the Department of Agriculture and the Flax Supply Association. The society, however, in the absence of these grants would still have made a net profit on its working of some £21. The Dromara Society also reported very satisfactory success, stating that prices had been improved by the co-operators, and that the area under flax cultivation is now double what it was before the society started. These societies are an interesting example of State assistance, through co-operative societies, in the revival of what was a dying industry. Co-operative societies of beekeepers, with a central federation in Dublin, are formed with similar objects and Other rules. At Sligo, a productive society for shirtmaking, formed upon co-partnership lines, is in operation, and various other societies are in existence. The Irishman seems ready and able, in fact, to apply the principle of Co-operation to all the circumstances of his industrial life, and in many directions as yet unthought of by our unimaginative British co-operators. Probably, however, the most interesting group of societies are the Agricultural Banks, which have taken root in Ireland and have met a very real need. For the details of the working of these, however, the student must turn to the next chapter. CHAPTER XX. Co-operative Banking and Credit Banks. CO-OPERATIVE Banking, which forms a very large part of the co-operative movement abroad, is as yet in its infancy in the United Kingdom, and this is the more remarkable from the fact that it is a subject which has constantly been discussed by British co-operators for the past thirty-five years. The importance to the democracy of retaining control over the employment of its accumulated savings has been urged over and over again by leading co-operators, but without avail, and practically the whole of the floating capital of co-operative societies, of trade unions, and of friendly societies is still handed over to private banking firms, by whom it is lent to employers of labour, to merchants, and to traders. Not only do the bankers profit by these transactions, but their competitors are enabled by the use of co-operative capital to oppose the progress of industrial democracy. On contemplating the enormous accumulated funds of workmen's organisations, estimated in 1903 by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies to reach a total of £164,933,167, it is easy to realise the power that an intelligent use of these funds would place in the hands of the workers, and difficult to understand why steps have not been taken to utilise this vast capital in the interests of associated labour. Table in separate pamphlet. See At the first of the present series of Co-operative Congresses, held in 1869, the question of Co-operative Banking was discussed, and the need of a co-operative bank Discussion in was urged on the ground that a co-operative Congress, 1869. outlet was required for the surplus capital of the stores, and that progress in manufacture was hindered by the want of the necessary capital. As a result of this discussion resolutions were adopted affirming (1) That it was expedient to establish a Co-operative Banking and Credit Association with a central office and branches. (2) That it should be formed as nearly as possible on the model of the North of England Co-operative Wholesale Society,* and composed exclusively of * The present English Co-operative Wholesale Society. co-operative societies registered under either the (3) That trade societies of working men which obtained (5) That money be received on deposit from registered This proposal was strongly supported by Mr. Thomas Hughes (the president), and by Messrs. J. M. Ludlow, E. O. Greening, Wm. Nuttall, and others. At the following Congress, 1870, it was reported that the results of an inquiry as to the willingness of co-operative societies to join in the establishment of the bank had been handed to a high authority upon banking, whose name, however, was not disclosed, and a report of this authority in favour of the proposal, together with various criticisms on the proposed constitution, was read to the Congress. After further discussion, the resolution of the previous year was re-affirmed and the subject referred to the executive of the Congress for further development. Efforts to induce the trade unions to join in the establishment of the bank were made by Messrs. Hughes, Ludlow, Morrison, and others who were then actively engaged in promoting legislation for the legalisation of the trade unions-but without success. At the succeeding Congress, in 1871, a further paper was read from the banking expert, urging that in the Wholesale Society was to be found the nucleus around which the scheme of a bank could be gradually evolved, and recommending that the Wholesale Society should open an account at the Bank of England, appoint a London bank as its agent, and at once begin to act as a banker. The Congress, however, appeared to lean to the side of caution; the question as to how the bank would find investments for its capital seemed to puzzle some delegates, while others were in favour of further propaganda before taking any definite action. Eventually the matter was referred to the Provincial Committee of the Central Board |