THE EXTENSION BULLETIN Vol. 5. No. 11 ANTIGONISH, N. S., APRIL 1, 1938 Price 5 Cents

Credit Unions On The March At Reserve Mines, C.B., in

December, 1932, a group of miners, struggling against the worst economic stress that was ever experienced in coal mining in Nova Scotia, decided to or-ganize a Credit Union as a means of improving their condi-tions. Thirty-five of them with an initial saving of §60:00, ap-plied to the Provincial govern-ment for a charter. In addition to this they adopted certain rules and regulations prescribed under the Credit Union Act of the Province.

How They Work A brief mention of two of

these rules will give an insight .into the workings of Credit Un-ions and an understanding of the significance of the move-ment. First, membership was limited' to miners and their im-mediate relatives in the com-munity of Reserve Mines. This is in keeping with good Credit Union practice, as membership in a Credit Union must be con-fined to people with common in-terests or engaged in common occupations. In this way a bond of unity is established among neighbors, friends and fellow workers. Second, these men of Reserve Mines commit-ted themselves to save at least twenty-five cents a week, which sum was to be turned in to a duly appointed treasurer or manager. From a considera-tion of this last rule one can easily see that the main object-ive of Credit Unions is to aid the members to save in a sys-tematic and regular manner.

The working folk of Eastern Nova Scotia are doing this. Fishermen in straitened cir-cumstances, farmers whose an-nual income is insufficient to meet their just debts, industri-al workers whose weekly wage is not by any means adequate, are regularly saving small amounts through their Credit Unions. They are discovering that they can practice thrift habits provided they have the right instrument at their com-mand to enable them to do so. A few examples will be of inter-est here. The people of Louis-dale, Richmond County, saved during the past two years over $2000,00, This community of

Forge New Bonds of Unity Between Fellow- Workers .

some seventy families was on relief at the time the Credit Union was organized. The farmers of Judique in less than

three years have accumulated in their Credit Union over $3000.-00. The Steel Workers' Credit Union in the City of Sydney has

Manager Hits At Trawlers Says They Ruin Fishing Grounds

By Joseph T. Boudireau, Manager of the Fish Co-op at Petit de Grat What about our trawler question? Does the govern-

ment see the need of abolishing them when they know that in the first place they ruin our fishing ground® and in the second place when they know that many fishermen are thrown out of employment automatically by having a few to operate trawlers for the companies, and the remainder not fishing because they cannot make it pay? The Lunenburg fishermen tell us a nice little story about this and from our own experience we know it is right.

Shore fishermen present a very sad story also. Mar-kets are glutted by this trawler fish and prices are very low. Trawler? again fish on our grounds at night we assume, be-cause we notice fish is so scattered, that no matter how much gear you have you cannot make it pay. In the district where I live there were approximately 50 shore boats fish-ing last fall. With the exception of no more than two boats that were successful in making about $75.00 clear for two months fishing, the remainder did not make over $40.00 clear to see them through the winter months. What do you suppose happens to these poor fishermen? They simply must get relief to keep the wolf from the door.

Scores Dole The dole is a curse to our community and other sec-

tions of Canada, I maintain; because in the first place the people are only getting back what they pay when they are taxed either directly or indirectly, and what keeps the country going besides the other revenues derived from dif-ferent sources? Borrowing ourselves out of debt? In the second place the dole is perhaps not distributed intelligently. People use all kinds of dishonest methods to obtain it.

Men Must Study Now, are we using our brains enough or our arms and

body too much ? Certainly we know how to bait a hook, how to set a net, where the fishing grounds are. We know how to get back home even if there is fog and to place our fish at some fish dealers. Then we cease knowing things for the most part. We do not know how our fish is processed if it is cut in fillets; if it is sold as it is taken out of the water, where it goes and what is the spread between us and the con-sumer. I am not criticizing the manner in which our fisher-men have followed these ideas, but I say there has been too much of it. There are now wonderful opportunities for knowledge to face these problems through Adult Education. I am sure if our fishermen could see the needs of educating themselves our industry would forge ahead in a short time; and more if our governments could help out the fishermen as a whole rather than the chosen few, our industry would be put on a" better paying basis and our fishermen would be more contented and anxious "to do something and be Somebody,"

assets of over $45,000.00. The total savings of Credit Unions in the province is half a million dollars. These illustrations will show quite clearly that men and women, with moderate incomes, can accumulate substantial sums of money in a compara-tively short time, by organized saving.

How Funds Are Used

This question may now well be asked. How is the money, thus accumulated, used by Cre-dit Union members? Accord-ing to right Credit Union proce-dure this money is loaned to the members when they need cash for useful and reasonable purposes. A study of 4148 loans made by 19 Credit Unions will show the range of useful-ness of Credit Union loans. 815 were used for paying expenses incurred by illness. 32 were used for buying real estate. These two numbers respective-ly top and end the list. In be-tween, other uses varied as fol-lows: Buying of furniture, clothing, repairs to homes, mortgages, vacations, insur-ance, taxes, household expenses, coal, rent, personal expenses, living expenses, education, and funerals. All of these loans were approved by a credit com-mittee of three or four mem-bers selected from the group. Before members of this com-mittee give final consent to the making of a loan they must be satisfied on three points—first, that the borrower will use the money for provident or produc-tive purposes; second, that the borrower wiH be in a position to repay the loan at a stated time; third, that one or more members will endorse the note or that some other form of sec-urity is given.

Loan Totals Large

This year Credit Unions in Nova Scotia will loan to their members three-quart-ers of a million dollars at interest rates averaging about 7%. According to law, Credit Unions are not permitted to charge over 12%. Right here we dis-cover the real value of Cre-

(Continued on page 8)

PAGE TWO THE EXTENSION BULLETIN APRIL 1, 1938

Books and Pamphlets These and others can be had

from our library. CO-OPERATIVE ENTER-

PRIZE, by Jacob Baker, mem-ber of the Inquiry Group sent to Europe by President Roose-velt. The book gives compact, yet full and detailed data on the British and European move-ment.

MONEY AND SOCIAL JUS-TICE, by F. H. Drinkwater. "Education, Art, Science, Indus-try," the author insists' none of these things can be healthy with the financial system as it is.

THE RUN FOR YOUR MON-EY. This intriguing book tells you how you may be swindled tomorrow—in your home as well as in your business.

AMERICA'S 60 FAMILIES by Ferdinand Lundberg. Saif to be the first study of Ameri-ca's ruling families—not the his-tory of how they acquired their wealth but an account of how they are employing and retain-ing their fortunes today. This book has been vigorously at-tacked as unfair.

CREATIVE WOODWORK by W. T. James and J. H. Dixon. A guide to the art and craft oi woodwork in all its branches.

Pamphlets

KITCHEN CHATS ON FARMING, by Dr. Hugh Mac-Pherson, in dialogue form. The facts of scientific agriculture in plain everyday language, inter-esting and illustrated.

Co - operation A rooster crowing lustily into the microphone

the staccato notes of the auctioneer. . . . the hustle and bustle, and the hurley burley of the auction sale; these were some of the noises that greeted radio listeners in the broadcast from Fleming-ton, New Jersey, on the night of March 15.

It was a radio dramatization of the new market system which is rapidly spreading throughout the state of New Jersey, and which was described' by one of the speakers as, "The best thing that ever hit these parts." Farmers are organizing co-operatively, pooling and grading their produce and conducting market auctions in the towns and cities. The Flemington market auction runs jnto $32,000 business weekly. It was started seven years ago, and is now, according to the radio broadcast, the na-tion's No. 1 co-operative market auction. The plan was declared to be eminently satisfactory both to producer and consumer.

One of the fanners who has been a member of the pool told his story into "the mike." He said that his returns for poultry were 10 to 20 per cent better as a result of the market auction plan. It was also stated that a 20 per cent increase in the "poultry population" of the areas served has come about since the inception of the plan. The farmer said that he was en-couraged to rear better poultry and more of it because the buy-ers who come to the auction knew his produce and paid satisfac-tory prices.

One of the consumer-buyers was also interviewed. He said he found the market auction the most satisfactory way to buy farm produce. He got the stuff fresh, it was graded and standardized, he had direct contact with the primary producers and could build up a business with the men whom he knew were turning out a good product, and at prices that were fair to both.

Another speaker over the boadcast was Mr. William Allen, secretary of Agriculture for the state of New Jersey.

The farmers through their co-operative associations are extending the auction plan to include eggs, fruit and vegetables. It will soon be on a state-wide basis. Flemmington claims to have been the pioneer, and may become famous for something else besides being the place of trial of Richard Bruno Hauptman.

Discussion Outline What are the possibilities of such market auctions in the

Maritimes ? What about the marketing of fish in some of our urban

centers ? Does production in the last analysis depend on faith —

faith that you will get out of your labor all that is coming to you ? Why do producer co-ops tend to increased production ?

The Idea of Self-Help

Dr. William King a physi-cian of Brighton, England, is usually referred to as the father of British Co-operation. More than a hundred years ago he wrote:

"Co-operation means, lit-erally, working together. Union is strength in all cases, and without excep-tion. What one man cannot do, two may. What is im: possible for a few, is easy for many. But before many can work they must join hand in hand; they must know their object and feel a common interest and a common tie."

"At present, in working for others, we get for our-selves only a small part. If in any way we could work for ourselves, we could get the whole. As we have no capital, we are obliged to find a master to give us employment, and we must work for common wages.

"It is capital we want. Union and saving will ac-cumulate it. We must form ourselves into a Soci-ety for this especial pur-pose. . . This capital may be employed in any way the society may think most ad-visable."

Dole and Forgotten Men This is the concluding install-

ment of an article begun in our last issue from the pen of our Newfoundland correspondent:

The next meeting was called in December and Father Flem-min? came from Marystown to sneak to them. The title of the lecture was "The Relation-ship between The Labour En-cyclicals and the Co-operative Movement." A small dance and social was held afterwards at which the sum of thirty dol-lars was collected. At this meeting over half the members had found' their membership fees. Each week after that, meetings were held and for three hours discussions took place. The peoole of Mortier walk a mile each week to Fox Cove and there isn't a night

stormy enough to keep them from attending. Every Thurs-day a large group gather at the home of Jack Dicks to listen to the Co-operative hour. When a stranger passes through the district he is asked to speak at their meetings, and they are all interested in pamphlets and papers. Those who can't read get those who can to read to them. As one fellow said to me, they are awakened and for the first time in history the communities are developing a real community spirit. This is a hopeful sign, for whenever people start thinking action is bound to follow. And in Fox Cove and Mortier it did follow. Through all their efforts thirty dollars was collected, but ninety men on the dole can't do much

with thirty dollars. Mr. Jack Dicks, the light-house keeper, loaned the society fifty dollars, to use as long as they wanted it, and furthermore he didn't want any interest. The next thing was to find out how much these people spent, even though they were on the dole No matter how poor a commun-ity is there is always a few cents spent on kerosene, match-es, tobacco, thread, etc. The president asked for orders, and an order of seventy dollars was taken. The commodities that everyone had a few cents to buy were kerosene, matches and tobacco.

Buying Club

The Secretary asked for quo-

tations from the different firms in Burin. One store keeper of-fered them tobacco for $5.90 a caddy, but finally they got it for $5.74. For matches they paid 95 cents a carton. All the mem-bers agreed to pay the marked price for the goods and let the rest go to build up their capi-tal. The tobacco was sold to the members at $7.00 a caddy; the profit of $1.26 going to the society. The matches sold to themselves at $1.44 a gross, a profit of 49 cents and the same thing was done with the kero-sene. Altogether on their first co-operative buying they saved twelve dollars. Now how were the goods distributed? The members almost fought for the privilege of doing the commun»

(Continued on page 8)

APRIL 1, 1938 THE EXTENSION BULLETIN PAGE THREE

LABOR TO-D AY By the Labor Reporter

Men, Industry and Machines Technological unemployment

—a large mouthful of words which generally signify a small mouthful of bread for someone.

It is not a new condition or one which workers have not tried to remove before. It is at least as old as the Industrial Revolution. Before 1760 a group of hand weavers, learning of Hargreave's spinning jenny, broke into his • house and smashed the "new-fangled con-trivance" because it enabled a man to produce eight times more than formerly and could be operated' by even a child. The experience has been re-peated in one form or another many times since.

More Acute

• It seems, however, that the problem has become more acute during the post-War period, was felt more keenly during the recent depression and has been aggravated- to some degree by that slump.

Labor was scarce after the War and dear. Capital was n o w plentiful and cheap. Com-petition was keen. Because of these conditions the captains of industry replaced men with more and more machines. It saved production costs and in-creased profits.

During the period of expan-sion, from 1919 to 1927, labor did not feel the pinch. It was fairly easy to find another job in the trade and service occupa-tions. But when production began to fall off and conditions approached the normal level, labor found itself unwanted. When production continued to fall off and fell below the nor-mal level, labor found itself not only unwanted but dismissed' in ever-increasing numbers. The captains of industry, to save their profits and, in some cases, the very industry itself, con-tinued to replace labor with more labor-saving machines.

According to C. R. Daugherty in his study, LABOR PROB-LEMS IN AMERICAN INDUS-TRY, the depression probably speeded up the installation of technological improvem e n t s: "Stimulated by governmental suggestion and private initia-tive, an increasing number of companies seem to have mod-ernized their plants and re-

placed obsolete machinery with new, labor-saving devices."

Thus unemployment became a problem for more than a few scattered individuals who "wouldn't work anyway."

Other Factors

Other factors than the in-creased use of machinery were also at work. The introduction of scientific management and of new processes and methods of production tended to increase the number without work, at least in those particular fields where the changes were made.

Such condition of unemploy-ment existed principally in the four major industries of min; ing, agriculture, manufacturing and railway transportation, though it was not confined to these.

Mining

In mining the hand-pick had given way to the electric cutter and the pan-shovel to the mo-bile loader. The results are graphically shown by Dr. Wal-ter N. Palakov, American con-sultant and engineer, in the United Mine Workers' Journal, March 15, 1938. There it is stated that only 35 men are now needed to load 1,000 tons of coal per shift in some mines of Indiana and Illinois where form-erly 110 were required; also in the Applachian Region 60 men and a loader do the work of 150 hand loaders.

For almost ten years there have been 250,000 too many men still attached to the min-ing industry in the United States. New machines and new methods, in the coal and other industries, have destroyed the demand for their labor.

Other Industries

A similar trend is seen in agriculture. Harvest trains no longer carry eastern thousands to western wheat fields, for two or three men and a combine can now harvest as much grain as twenty-four men could in 1900.

So too in other industries. A Committee on Education and Labor, of the United States Senate, reports: "Seven men now do the work which former-ly required 60 men to perform in casting pig iron; two men now do the work which former-

ly required 128 to perform in loading pig iron; one man re-places 42 in' operating open-hearth furnaces. Four men can now do in 3 to 7 hours what it formerly took 8 men three weeks to perform in repair work on locomotives, due to the oxyacetylene torch. A brick-making machine in Chicago makes 40,000 bricks per hour. It formerly took one man 8 hours to make 450. In New York from 1914 to 1925 the number of workers in the pa-per-box industry decreased 32 per cent while the output per wage earner increased 121 per cent."

These facts suggest a further question, "Will continued unem-ployment be the price that must be paid for new methods and new machines in industry?" The men who stand to profit by their introduction assure us there is no cause for fear. The men whose daily bread lies in the balance go on fearing just the same.

Labor and society as a whole and in the long run are sup-posed to benefit by technologic-al improvements, for such im-provements make it possible to produce goods more cheaply, which may in turn be sold more cheaply. And when these are sold more cheaply the public will demand more 'of such goods. With this increased demand comes a greater demand for the labor necessary to produce them. And so the workers are back at work.

A pretty theory that doesn't always work for the simple reason that the producer doesn't always sell more cheaply even when able to produce at a lower cost. Nor does he always bring the idle laborers back to work. Oftentimes he installs more and better machines instead.

But, it is argued, if the oper-ator will not sell more cheaply he will at least invest his new profits in newer industries and surely that will create new em-ployment so that the danger of continued unemployment for society as a whole is not pos-sible.

The Fact Remains

This may be. Many men have found new jobs since 1920.

But the fact remains, whether or not unemployment be per-manent for society as a whole, that because of new methods and new machines millions are thrown out of work for varying periods of time. It may be a few weeks. Often it is months, sometimes years, occasionally permanently. The man past middle age secures a new job with difficulty. The skilled worker cannot turn his hand to anything at all. The unskilled must move from place to place or shuffle in the bread line.

It is of little avail to them or society if the profit-makers in-vest their new profits in new in-dustries when they and millions like them, being without wages, cannot buy new products. Pro-ducers without consumers soon cease to produce and consumers without dollars do not consume.

Must the unemployed be the sole sacrifice to the gods of in-dustrial progress? Must the insecurity of the laborer be the sole offering of society on the altar of advancement? Must the fears of the workingman and the indigence of his family alone atone for the sins of the unjust profit-seekers?

It must not be so. Let in-dustry right its share of the wrong and where it cannot or will not let government inter-vene. Let industry introduce the six hour day. Let it share its increased profits with the unemployed through a plan of social insurance. Let it take no step to increase the number of the unemployed until it has first helped to make provision for them. If it is unwilling to do this, if it has no desire to portion its profits, if it does not assume its share of responsibil-ity, then let government or where possible, labor itself, as producers, consumers or both, take over and operate not for profit but for use.

We were very pleased recent-ly to receive a great number of new subscriptions to The EX-TENSION BULLETIN from hitherto virgin territory. Thanks to the Rossignol Credit Union Limited of Liverpool on the South Shore there are now 36 copies a month going into that district. And just the other day Mr. W. B. Fitzpatrick of the Tracadie Credit Union in P.E.I, sent in 28 subscriptions.

To Mr. Campbell and the other officers and members of the Rossignol Credit Union and to Mr. Fitzpatrick, the officers and members of the Tracadie Credit Union we offer our thanks for their generous sup-port.

PAGE FOUR THE EXTENSION BULLETIN APRIL 1, 1938

Regional Libraries Make Books Regional Libraries Make Availa

For Nova Scotia, a province depending largely on agriculture, fishing and small industries, a library offers great opportunities. To quote from remarks made by a local speaker at a recent meeting in New Glasgow, "Nova Scotia's prosper-ity must depend upon agriculture and small in-dustries. To make this possible its people should have access to literature relating to as many sci-entific treatments of agricultural and industrial suojects as possible. There are opportunities for further development of many of the present occu-pations of our people, such as sheep-raising, bet-ter knowledge of poultry, treatment of soils for various crops, plant diseases, dairying, construc-tion and use of silos, lighting and ventilation of barns, drainage, care of farm machinery.

Much more might be done in the development of small industries such as canning of fruits and vegetables. I believe that there is an opportun-ity for one or more small furniture factories turn-ing out products of the very best from the mater-ial at hand in the forests in this province.

"Regional libraries, bringing a knowledge of these things to the people of this province would give an opportunity to constructive minds to de-vise and accomplish things far beyond our pres-ent accomplishments."

Books ble in Every Village

Cost of Library Service According to the American Library Association

"One dollar per capita is the average minimum annual income upon which reasonable adequate library service can be maintained." There are cities and counties in the United States which a-chieve, and some which exceed this minimum.

In Canada Toronto contributes between eighty and ninety cents per capita annually. Fort Wil-liam, which has an excellent small town library, votes about seventy cents per capita and the Praser Valley Union Library thirty-five cents per capita. In regard to the Fraser Valley it should be said that the library was instituted at a time of agricultural depression. While a regional li-brary for a purely agricultural district might be operated at a minimum of thirty-five cents per capita it would be too low for'a region where the occupational interests were more varied.

With regard to the apportioning of the fund the American Library Association states, "The allotment of at least 55 per cent of the total in-come for the salaries of the library staff (not including janitors, engineers, et cetera), 25 per cent for books, periodicals and binding, and 20 per cent for all other expenditures is a fair standard."—From "Library Survey of Nova Sco-tia."

Tr^e Extension Bulletin Published on the first and third Friday of each

month, from November to May, in the interests of Adult Education.

- B y -The Extension Department, St. Francis Xavier University

SUBSCRIPTION 75 CENTS A YEAR

ANTIGONISH, APRIL 1, 1938

Getting Out of the Rut

Would one day a week spent in study and co-operative meetings pay the farmer or fisherman in the long run? This is a question which Extension workers have been putting before adult groups. It is a suggestion that is particularly fitting dur-ing the seasons of slack work.

There is nothing more soul-destroying than for hard-working and honest men to be working in a blind alley: planting punk seed, nursing scrub stock, not knowing where and when and how to market, pay-ing unnecessarily high prices for gear and equipment and implements and fertilizer, and finally giving up by the futility of it and becoming careless, dissolute and dis-couraged.

Long, long ago before post offices and mail delivery systems were established people did not think it was necessary to go to the post office and there-by make con-tact with the contemporary world about them. They depended on rumor, tramps and travellers for their information. But when post offices were established people soon found that it was immensely gainful for them to spend some time every day getting their mail and thus keeping abreast of current events. No one now begrudges the time and effort spent in get-ting the mail.

The day is not far off when the co-oper-ative circle too will be a regular habit. People will meet regularly to study and decide and manage certain collective econ-omic affairs vital to their continuance as self-supporting citizens. And commun-ities where the habit becomes entrenched will be the ones wherein the young people will find inspiration and guidance to settle down and build up the country.

Do Colleges Fish

In One Small Pond?

Has college education in the past been limited to a comparatively small economic group? The New York Times commented editorially upon the recent assertion by President Conant of Harvard that such is the case. Dr. Conant said most of our college students probably came from that part of the population which has a family income of $2,000 a year or more. "It is perfectly evident to me", he declared, "that at the college level and at the ad-

vanced professional school stage all the in-stitutions of the country have been fishing in one small pond." There exists he thought, a "large, untapped reservoir" of human ability.

It is to tap some of this untapped reser-voir that adult education in vital matters is coming into its own today. Extension courses, for instance, are picking up vigor-ously motivated types of learners who didn't get a chance at college or even high school. And in some cases they are pick-ing up college graduates who went through the time honored academic tread-mills only to realize after ten years that they were sadly out of contact with the social and economic realities of the hour.

Co-operation and

The Universities

In Great Britain the Universities have been examining the Co-operative Move-ment. Their findings are made known in the book "Consumers'* Co-operation in Great Britain." The Co-operative Review, Manchester, commenting on the book said in part:

"After much labor the committee comprising representatives of the uni-versities has delivered its report. This is published under the title, CONSUM-ERS' CO-OPERATION IN GREAT BRITAIN, and has been compiled by Professor A. M. Carr-Saunders, Pro-fessor P. Sargant Florence, and Pro-fessor Robert Peers. In addition such eminent economists as Colin Clark,

Margaret I. Cole, Professor C. R. Fay and others, co-operated.

"As far back as October, 1936, ref-erence was made in these pages to the gap between co-operative education and the universities. Possibly this book will stimulate interest among university people in the activities of the Co-operatve Movement. No doubt, too, the Movement will be less in-clined to look upon the universities as foreign bodies." The import of the book seems to be~that

it lays open again the gap between "co-op-erative education and the universities" in Great Britain. This same thing has fre-quently been pointed out by people associa-ted with Co-operation Tiere in. the Mari-times. It has been said that if the Bri-tish work-people could do what they did without aid from formal education, what might they have done if they had had the ministrations of the educational institu-tions? They might have by this time solved the socal problem. i -ai

The Universities maintained a stand-off attitude in England. And for that matter so did other sources of moral inspiration, and so did and do some quite highly moral intellectuals. So now it is said that the Movement is backward; it is mediocre; it is keeping bad company with Moscow. Well, it's like the case of starving a man to death and- then blaming him for not being a heavy-weight and for having dizzy spells. Nourishment is as necessary in the sphere of ideas as in the physical. To4' people ask for bread and get a stone.

APRIL 1, 1938 THE EXTENSION BULLETIN PAGE FIVE

Employment Practices in Canadian Industry The National Employ-

ment Commission, recently dissolved, made a study of

I employment conditions in I certain Canadian indus-' tries. It sent out a ques-r tionnaire to which 7,725

firms with a total of 1,028,-750 employees, replied. Here are some conclusions) compiled from the replies, as reported by the Federal Department of Labor.

Hiring Practices

Reporting on the "General Nature of Replies," it * was shown that of the 7,725 firms sending in returns, 88.5 per cent reported a chief method in hir-ing new workers, while 11.5 per cent did not reply; 12 per cent of the firms prescribed a maximum age of entry; 83.3 reported no maximum age lim-it; and 4.7 per cent of the firms did not reply, to the question. Of the firms reporting, 18.7 per cent had a prescribed retire-ment age; 26.2 had none; and 55.1 per cent did not reply to this question.

Firms reporting an appren-ticeship plan formed 24.1 per cent of the total firms who re-plied to the questionnaire; 70.5 per cent reported no apprentice-ship plan and 5.4 per cent of the firms did not reply to this question.

The number of employees covered by the questionnaire was 1,028,760 of whom 67.0 per cent were employees of firms reporting no maximum hiring age; 29.4 per cent were employees of firms reporting a prescribed maximum age; and 3.6 per cent were employees of

.firms not replying to this ques-tion. Dealing with retirement

age the tabulation shows that 42.6 per cent of the employees were engaged by firms report-ing a prescribed retirement age; 21.7 per cent were em-ployed in firms with no pres-cribed retirement age; and 35.7 per cent of the employees were in firms not replying to this question. Employees in firms reporting no apprenticeship plan constituted 69.3 per cent of the total number of employ-ees covered by the report; 27.3 per cent were with firms re-porting an apprenticeship plan; and 3.4 per cent were employed with firms not replying to this particular question.

Chief Methods of Hiring

Dealing with the "Chief Methods of Hiring," statistics indicate that 6,840 firms re-ported on this part of the ques-tionnaire. Of the total firms reporting, 1,018 hired their employees through advertis-ing; 487 obtained their work-men through trade unions; 1,-648 hired "at the gate"; 258 employers engaged their em-ployees through the Employ-ment Service of Canada; 113 hired their men through pres-ent employees; 398 obtained them from a waiting list; 1,116 through other methods; and 1,-802 through two or more methods.

Prescribed Maximum Age of Entry

Answers to the question re-garding the "Prescribed Max-imum Age of Entry to Em-ployment" were received from 928 firms employing 302,379 workers. Fifty-one firms with 6,148 employees, had a pre-

Credit Union Growth in Nova Scotia

Why Jobs Get Scarce

From the report of the Inspector of Credit Unions, Dec. 31, 1936 1937

Members 12,178 17,173 Share Capital $244,447.83 $405,439.45 Deposits 3,000.00 7,642.24 Amount Loans Issued 374,923.79 646,349.90 Total Assets 269,044.96 446,403.19 Guaranty Funds 5,200.00 9,485.65 Credit Unions Operating 71 105

1937 Gain 41% 65%

154% 72% 65% 82% 48%

A more recent calculation discloses that there are 123 credit unions having a membership of 25,000. They have total assets of $500,000 in savings and deposits arid a loan business in the past year of $750,000.

} Why have jobs become scar-cer in Canadian Industry since 1929?

Figures made public by the National Employment Com-mission in co-operation with employers in certain industrial groups indicate the following to be the causes:

1,610 firms, with a total of 261,379 employees, attributed

-the reduction in employment to "decrease in domestic demand."

208 firms with 74,428 em-ployees, reported the reduction as being caused by "decrease in export demand."

114 firms with 22,187 em-ployees, reported the decline in employment as due to the "in-troduction of new machines."

214 firms with 79,109 em-ployees, reported the adverse employment condition as re-sulting from the "increased use of alternative products."

181 firms, with 12,982 em-ployees, attributed the reces-sion as caused by a "change to new line of product or activi-ty."

681 firms, with 102,073 em-ployees, reported the decrease to "other causes."

scribed maximum age ranging from 20 to 29 years; 85 firms with 20,456 workers had a prescribed' maximum of 30 to 39 years; 322 firms with 221,-752 employees (the largest group) prescribed 40 to 49 as the maximum age of entry to employment; 174 firms with 29,862 workers prescribed a maximum of 50 to 59 years: 93 firms with 9,724 employees prescribed a maximum of 60 to 69 years; 6 firms with 172 employees reported a maxi-mum age of 70 years or over; while 197 firms with 14,265 employees reported a pres-cribed maximum age of entry but did not specify any age or group.

Prescribed Retirement Age

The total number of firms reporting a retirement age in effect numbered 1,442 employ-ing 438,320 workers. Nine-teen firms with 1,736 employ-ees had a prescribed retire-ment age of 60-59 years; 681 firms with 304,332 workers (the largest group) prescribed a retirement age of 60-69 years; 165 firms with 43,883 employees reported retirement age but did not specify any age group.

Apprenticeship Systems

The total number of firms reporting apprenticeship plans in effect was 1,859, covering 280, 562 employees. Of the total firms BO reporting, 1,388 firms with 234,319 employees, had private apprenticeship plans; 206 firms with 20,184 workers reported trade associ-ation schemes; 167 firms with 20,071 employees were partici-pating in Government appren-

ticeship plane; while 98 firms with 5,988 workers reported no specified type of plan.

Sick Leave With Pay

The total number of firms reporting sick leave with pay was 6,496, with 919,779 em-ployees. Of this total number of firms reporting, 5,028 (with 689,894 employees) indicated sick leave with pay to salaried employees only: 20 firms, with 852 employees, provided sick leave with pay to wage earners only; 837 firms, with 131,477 employees, provided sick leave with pay to both salaried em-ployees and wage earners; and 611 firms, with 97,556 employ-ees, provided sick leave with pay to unspecified classes.

Holidays With Pay

The total number of firms re-porting on holidays with pay was 6,743 with 958,295 em-ployees. Of these firms, 5,072, with 656,252 employees, al-lowed holidays with pay to salaried employees only; 17 firms with 787 employees, al-lowed holidays with pay to wage earners only; 1,256 firms, with 227,038 employees, pro-vided holidays with pay to sal-aried employees and wage earners; and 398 firms, with 74,218 employees gave holidays with pay to unspecified classes.

Pension Plans

Pension plans were reported by 9.3 per cent of all firms making returns (7,725); 87.5 per cent of the firms reported no pension plan, while 3.2 per cent did not make a reply to this question.

PAGE SIX THE EXTENSION BULLETIN APRIL. 1, 1938

What We Women Can Do (Speech delivered at the closing

of the Extension School by Miss Mildred Crosby, Bon-shaw, P. E. I.) One of the most important

problems facing the world today is that of reorganizing the whole social and economic sys-tem. This problem of recon-struction must be considered not by individuals but by na-tions.

Not only on the men must we rely; but on the women also. Women must play an active part in solving this very import-ant problem. This world was made for the use of both men and women, so why should we women not do our part in mak-ing it a better place in which to live?

But, you may ask, "What can women do? What part can we play in readjusting the world and how can we play it?"

Intelligent Understanding Necessary

A good doctor must know the nature of a sickness before he prescribes a remedy. So we must intelligently understand the faults of the order of things before we can apply the cure.

Education, then, is necessary for all, in order that we may be able to prescribe the remedy. And education is the keystone of the Co-operative Movement In this movement both married and single women can take an active part and are naturally fitted to do so. In woman there is a tendency to help others. By nature she was or-dained to be man's helpmate and, while helping others, she helps herself.

Due to the democratic nature of the movement, women can enjoy all the advantages of it to the fullest degree. They can form study clubs of their own, and in them study scientifically the management of their res-pective homes.

Handicrafts

Another very interesting study they might take up is the revival of Handicrafts which, at the present time, have become almost a lost art among the younger generations.

There could be mixed study

WOMEN'S P A G E clubs in which men and women study the common everyday problems that concern the com-munity.

In the credit union phase of the Co-operative Movement, women can play an active part. If a woman is a member of a credit union, she becomes more thrifty in the management of her home. Unnecessary spend-ing in her household would be lessened to a great degree. The woman of the house, especially the mother, imbued with the spirit of thrift, would naturally pass it on to her children and the present spendthrift ways of our younger generation would be corrected.

Women Must Support Move-ment

It is useless for men to start co-operative societies if women take their trade elsewhere. It is women who control the great stream of wealth that flows every day through the homes of the country. Woman as the purchasing agent of the house-hold can reap the benefits pro-vided by the consumers' co-op-erative.

The spirit of unity, as engen-dered by this movement, is a very important feature. Wom-en working together in har-mony can bring about many benefits. It is said that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. If all these cradle rockers were united in a co-op-erative movement, think of the influence they would wield in shaping the destinies of the world.

Women, especially mothers, abhor war, and were they to raise their voices in an united chorus against war they would be heard and heeded. By in-ternational co-operation we could remove the greediness and jealousies that prompt nations to strive for mastery.

Another feature of this movement would be that of a-dult co-education. Women could study how to become bet-ter partners' of men in married life. They could study the art of making a home, and of living more harmoniously together.

Many Solutions Offered

In the world today, individu-als, groups and' nations are groping for a way out of the quicksands of the present econ-omic quagmire. The philosophy of despair has seized the hearts of many. "Isms" of various

kinds are in existence. Fas-cism, Communism, Nazism, all claim that they can solve the problems of the world, and are trying to force their ideas on others. All these, by their very nature, cannot help us, for they are really built on founda-tions of coercion and violence. Systems built on such a basis cannot bring about peace and prosperity to our people. The Co-operative Movement is essen-tially democratic, voluntary, and founded on education, and

it is the one and only system to adopt if we wish to reorganize the whole economic, social, and moral order.

In conclusion, then, woman, by her very nature, can play an active part in this movement. She is naturally fitted to help others as man's helpmate. We might point out that in any part of the Co-operative Move-ment women have their place. It would be as difficult to deter-mine exactly that place as to determine women's place in the community. We could find only one answer, namely, that the support and interest of women are essential to any measure of success.

Women's Guild Organized At a general meeting of the

People's Co-operative last March a committee consisting of Mrs. John R. Maclnnis, Purl Brook; Miss Sadie MacDonald, McArra's Brook; and Miss Te-resa MacGillivray, Antigonish, was named by the Educational Committee of the store to look into the matter of forming a Women's Guild.

The appointment of this com-mittee was soon followed by positive action. A series of meetings was held throughout the territory served by the People's Co-operative, both in the Spring and Fall, to acquaint the women with the Guild idea and to outline a possible field of action When once it was formed. In each community study clubs were organized, and throughout the past season these women have been studying Consumers' Co-operation. In some districts the results have been particul-arly gratifying.

Rest Room Needed

Since the People's Co-opera-tive serves a radius of approx-imately 20 miles a very press-ing need was the fitting up of a rest room for the women of the rural districts. The directors of the store, on being ap-proached, generously placed the necessary rooms at the disposal of the Guild Committee, while several of them, as well as some of the shareholders, gave freely of their time and their labor to help get these rooms ready. The de-tails of furnishing the rooms were looked after by a commit-tee consisting of Mrs. Gerald Harris, Antigonish; Miss Kath-erine Thompson, Antigonish; and Miss Teresa MacGillvray, Antigonish. They were gener-ously helped by several women from the surrounding districts.

In order to provide funds for this work contributions were sent by twelve study clubs, while the committee in charge of the Community Centre, as this project is called, raised al-most sixty dollars. The actual work done would cost about five hundred dollars, but owing to the amount of free labor given the cost was approximately two hundred dollars. Sufficient money was raised to cover this amount.

As a result of all this the. lady members of the People's Co-operative are now the proud possessors of a cosy rest room, a wash room, a kitchenette, and a spacious handicraft room. Here looms will be set up and instructions given in various handicrafts to those desiring it,';

Guild Organized

At the annual meeting of the People's Co-operative on tha.q 23rd of March, a Women's Guild was formally organized. The officers appointed are as follows:

President—Mrs. Gerald Har-ris, Antigonish; Vice-President —Mrs. John R. Maclnnis, Purl Brook; Treasurer—Miss Teresa MacGillivray, Antigonish; Sec-retary—Miss Katherine Thomp-son, Antigonish.

Other committees appointed ' were: Study Clubs, Handi- j crafts, and House Committees.

The aims of the Guild are as follows: 1. The education of the mem- >

bers in co-operative princi-ples and ideals through the medium of local study clubs. •

2. Attendance at all meetings of general interest to thfci community.

3. Developing speaker talent, and active participation in discussions at meetings.

(Continued on page 8)

" * • " • ' •

APRIL 1, 1938 THE EXTENSION BULLETIN PAGE SEVEN

FOR FARMERS' STUDY CLUBS VEN

By Dr. Hugh MacPherson

(Continuation)

LEADER: This evening we shall discuss a little more in de-tail the place of hogs on the farm. I think this is a class of animal that has been neg-lected in Eastern Nova Scotia. In a section like this where most of the farmers have milk cows, I think hogs and poultry are. necessary to turn the skim njilk into cash. What do you think of hogs Donald?

DONALD: I find the few that I raise all right, and I think the hog business is com-ing right along in other parts of Nova Scotia. Reports from the Department of Agriculture show that in 1937 the ship-

' ments of hogs was double that of the previous year. This is especially tine of places along

1 the north shore where the peo-• pie have organized shipping clubs.

ARCHIE: I read in "The Maritime Farmer" New Bruns-wick shipping clubs sold 10,000 hogs co-operatively last year, and one mail in the Stanley Club is feeding 100 hogs this win-ter.

ROD: It would not be wise for any of us to start on that scale; he might sank a lot of money.

JOE: Certainly not Rod. The hog business has to be studied and learned like any other branch of farming. One Should start with a spring lit-ter and use as much home grown feed as possible.

JIM: All farming goes back to what is grown out of the land, isn't that so?

LEADER: That's right, we • insisted on it very much last year.

JOHN: I was talking to a man a couple of years ago who fed a litter of hogs, and he said he would never do it again, he lost money on them.

JOE: It's easy enough to ' lose money. Some people who

went headlong into poultry a number of years ago lost on them because they had not learned how to take - care of them and feed them; but things are different now since peo-ple know better.

JOHN: But the prices change so often that you can't depend on them.

DONALD: Yes, the prices • vary as they do with everything ; else. Just now they are rather

good for the higher grades — $10.00 a hundred live weight

for bacons and an extra dollar a head for selects. Two years ago they were down to about $8.25, but even at that there is a margin of profit for the care-ful feeder.

LEADER: Now Donald, will you give us a brief account of how you raise a spring litter. Later on when we study live stock in detail we shall go more fully into the matter.

DONALD: Well, first of all one must have the right kind of hog for the market, and that is the bacon hog—in this country the Yorkshire. It has that long deep side from which the side of bacon comes. It also has that smooth compact shoulder which prevents the formation of too much fat in that region.

In the next place the pigs must get the right sort of feed for quick growth and the form-ation of flesh with much lean meat in it. That means the feed must be fairly high in pro-tein, about 18% for the yourtg pigs after weaning, and finish-ing off at about 14%.

The hogs should grow to about 200 within six months.

ROD: Did you ever have any trouble with the pigs' hind legs swelling and getting lame?

DONALD: Yes, I used to have a little of that, but not now. That is caused by want of mineral in the feed. Skim milk and perhaps a little bone flour in the meal will prevent that. In winter a little cod liver oil will supply the thing they call vitamin D, which also is necessary for the healthy growth of bone. In summer sunshine supplies that want.

JOHN: You are getting sci-entific too Donald.

DONALD: Well, I read about that in some pamphlets on feeding, and I find it's all right.

Now, about the feeds. First of all comes skim milk. As we discussed its feed value here al-ready it is not necessary to say more than this, that to get the most value out of it, it should be fed at the rate of 3 or 4 lb. skim milk to 1 lb of meal.

The other home grown feeds I use for summer feeding are young clover, rape, or almost any green feed, and crushed barley, oats, and wheat, if I should happen to have any left over.

Pigs, of course, cannot use green feeds to the same advan-tage as sheep or cows, but they must have a supply of that growth producing vitamin A,

which is abundant in green plants.

JOHN: Is that a different vitamin, or whatever you call it, from the one you mentioned before ?

DONALD: Yes, this one is necessary for general growth and the other one is necessary for the growth of bone and teeth. At least, that's my understanding of it.

JOHN: I'm wondering how we ever got along without them.

JOE: I suppose we never did get along without them; we didn't know they were there. Now that these scientists have found out about them we can make sure that they are there.

JOHN: We raise our hens and our pigs under somewhat unnatural conditions anyway, and I suppose it is a good thing to supply everything they need in that way.

LEADER: You must have put some thought on this mat-ter of feeding pigs Donald, and your pen of hogs out there shows it. Now, what do you think of Alex's estimate of the number of hogs that make an animal unit, I think Alex said 10 growing hogs. In other words could one feed that many from 2*4 acres, the area we es-timated necessary for winter feeding a cow?

DONALD: I can give you my opinion. With the skim milk and the green stuff it will take about 500 lbs of barley, and say about 75 lbs concen-trate such as fish meal and tankage to finish a hog. At the present yields you could hardly raise enough barley from 2% acres to feed 10 hogs. When we get our yields up to the standard, however, one could tackle a litter of 8.

ROD: How much skim milk do you estimate it takes to feed a hog?

DONALD: Anywhere from 1000 to 1500 lbs.

ROD: That means that from a good cow you would have enough skim milk for 4 pigs.

DONALD: I understand that is the number of hogs kept to a cow in some foreign countries.

LEADER: What would be the cash outlay to bring this home grown feed up to the re-quired amount of protein?

DONALD: For 10 pigs you would require about 7 bags, say 4 bags of tankage and 3 bags of

white fishmeal, costing in the vicinity of $21.00. I figure that at average prices a good bacon hog will pay for the skim milk at 50 cents a cwt., (which should be credited to the cow), for the home grown" feed, at cost of production, for the extra concentrate at cash cost, and still leave a margin to its own credit.

Besides that nearly all the fertility taken out of the land by the crops can be returned to it, and that makes for perman-ent agriculture.

LEADER: The conclusion of all this discussion is that any class of stock, if the individual animals are of good quality, will turn the labor spent on the land into cash, and that at a margin of profit.

Now, I will ask Joe what plans he is making to stock his farm.

JOE: As I told you before, I can get five 8-acre fields on my farm, and that gives me land for 18 units of stock. Now, I am going to keep 3 horses and that leaves me 15 units for other stack. As I get my land worked up within the next 4 or 5 years I plan to have 6 good cows, (6 animal units), 4 young cattle for replacing older ani-mals (2 units), 20 sheep (2 units), 1 brood sow, feeding the spring litter, and probably sell-ing the fall litter for the first few years (1% units), 2 units of hens (say about 150). That leaves me a unit and one half to be added! as my plan develops.

LEADER: Thank you Joe. Organizing the farm in that way is an entirely personal matter. Some may prefer one arrangement, some another, but a definite plan is necessary for everyone. I like the idea of looking ahead 4 or 5 years. All planning looks to the future, and that is particularly true of the farm.

ROD: What is the old say-ing?—"Without vision the peo-ple perish." It applies here.

ED.: I'm glad I joined you here. I have my vision which is becoming clearer after each one of these meetings—a vision of a good comfortable home, and independence in a Christian country, and with the help of Providence I am going to real-ize it.

LEADER: Thank you Don-ald and your good wife for your hospitality. We meet next week at Jim's.

PAGE EIGHT THE EXTENSION BULLETIN APRIL 1, 1938

MORE ABOUT

Dole and Forgotten Men (Continued from page 2)

ities a good turn. The volun-teers were asked to distri-bute the goods in Mortier Dur-icle. Pat Daely was appointed, but after the meeting Jack Dae-ly told the president that he spoke first, but he didn't speak loud enough.

Get Lumber

In a letter addressed to the Department from Fox Cove it was stated that although they have very little money, they hope within a year or two years to have their own Co-operative Store. They are showing that they mean business by going into the woods this winter to haul out the lumber for the pro-posed store. Once they have to go a distance of 7 miles for the wood. You might ask, how do they get the money to buy things? They get it by selling wood, berries, rabbits or sheep. What they have done proves that no place is too poor to ac-complish something. They are not suffering from the illusion that Co-operation alone will make them rich. They realise that production must return before the dole will be abolished. They have no elaborate plans that can't be worked- out. But through their own efforts they have lost nothing and gained much. In dollars and cents they have gained $12.00. While last winter they were content to sit home and grumble about the bad times, this year they prefer to hold meetings and do the little things that can be done. This year for the first I time, they are interested in ideas and whenever you find people meeting-conscious, and I eager for information, you find I progress. And when you find ' people walking through any j storm a mile to a meeting you find interest, and the people of Fox Cove and Mortier prove their interest by gathering out-! side the hall after every meet-ing and yelling three cheers for Co-operation. The sound rever-berates throughout the whole settlement.

Give Cheers

Now there are some people who would laugh at what they so far have accomplished and call it insignificant. There are some who would ridicule and boo them for their tiny efforts, but I, for one, would not like to stand in front of those forgot-ten men when their meeting is over and boo when they yelled

three cheers for Co-operation. They are not boasting of

what they have accomplished, nor do they think that prosper-ity is around the corner. But they are preparing themselves and their community so that they can take advantage of

their opportunity when it arrives, and if every one of the 1300 settlements in Newfound-land was following the same plan of Mortier and Fox Cove, I feel sure we would be happier and contented people on the right road.

Reserve Store Aims to Promote Local Production

The organization of Produc-ers' Co-operatives should be undertaken at Reserve without delay, for the Co-operative Store provides an outlet for farm produce, such as rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, pota-toes, turnips a.nd other vege-tables, pork, eggs, etc.

The present directors would prefer to buy requirements locally, provided of course the quality is in keeping with the standard demanded by Co-oper-ative principles.

The co-operative store, being a community enterprise, was established to serve the Com-

munity and assist Reserve citi-zens in every way possible.

Some consideration also should be given to manufac-tured goods that can be retailed through the store, and in that classification can be mentioned overalls, working shirts and socks, summer underwear, chil-dren's clothing and other things.

Study clubs formed to probe the possibilities might be able to render valuable help to unem-ployed youths. Nothing can be lost and much may be gained by investigation. Let's get going!—From "The Reserve Beacon."

MORE ABOUT

Women's Guild (Continued from page 6)

4. An active interest in im-proving the appearance of co-operative buildings, prem-ises, etc.

5. Securing of new members for co-operative store.

6. Participation in co-opera-tive enterprises as members of boards of directors, supervisory committees, etc.

7. The establishment of a women's department in the People's Co-operative.

8. Participation in the setting up and maintenance of co-operative libraries.

9. Co-operation in the estab-lishment of recreational facilities.

10. Arranging for territory-wide rallies of guild mem-bers.

This Guild is in its infancy, but it is safe to assume that it will soon make its influence felt.

Agricultural Short Course Sponsored by the People's Co-operative Ltd., to be

held in the Agricultural Building, Antigonish, April 7 and 8.

APRIL 7 10.00 a.m—The Agricultural situation in Antigonish

County and its possibilities. Marketing and its relation to production,

1.30 p.m.—Cropping systems and home grown feeds Dairying and Cow Testing Association

APRIL 8 10.00 a.m.—Soils and Fertilizers.

Pastures 1.30 p.m.—Poultry and Turkeys

Sheep

Rev. Dr. Hugh MacPherson and F. W. Walsh will give the opening addresses.

This program has been arranged by the Marketing and Educational Committees of the People's Co-opera-tive, Antigonish.

MORE ABOUT

Credit Unions

(Continued from page 1)

dit Unions. It is this: The members, through their own organizations, supply ' themselves with credit at reasonable rates of interest. In the early days we were told that the working class-es could secure credit at reasonable rates of interest by applying to already ex-isting credit-giving organ!* ations. This is not true. Studies in various countries have revealed the fact that only 25% of the common people are able to secure credit at favorable rates.

Special studies carried out by the National Catholic Welfare Bureau of the United States have made it clear that 85% to 93% of the rank and file are un-able to secure bank credit at reasonable rates of interest. In-formal studies pursued in East-ern Nova Scotia show quite def-initely that our people are pay-ing more for credit than their meagre incomes can bear.

A few illustrations will illus-trate the truth of this state-ment. A farmer in Antigonish County, not having cash to pur-chase his spring supplies, was forced to buy these necessities on six months' credit. He paid an enhanced, price which was equivalent to 30% interest. A] fisherman, in Richmond County^ forced to purchase his fishing gear on credit, paid 50% inter-est. A worker in one of our cities, obliged to borrow $200.-00 from a finance corporation, paid interest charges as high as 70%. These are not isolated cases, but represent a cross-sec-tion of what people in Nova Scotia have to pay for credit. To the close observer it is easily seen that our private credit in-stitutions, designed to finance the needs of our people, have left the field wide open to loan sharks who may appear in the form of individuals or organiz-ations. It is satisfying to ob-serve that the people of Eastern Nova Scotia are not waiting for state regulation of personal loan companies but are surely and slowly building their own credit agencies from which they can secure money, when needed, without paying the exorbitant interest charges to which they have been accustomed."