About £31,000. The credit societies were criticised very strongly at first, and people announced that they would die before they would have them. Every attempt was made to get loans direct. Naturally that is the easiest and most satisfactory way for the borrower, whatever about the State. Everyone is anxious—we are all individualistic in this country especially when it comes to a question of credit—to get money direct, and for a long time the credit societies stopped dead because the people hoped that the Government would relent and that the money would be advanced in a way that was regarded by possible borrowers as more satisfactory. As it became quite plain that we intended to stick to the idea of credit societies, and that the people had to make use of this very reasonable scheme which we propounded, then the credit societies began gradually to spread, and to spread in the areas where they were needed most, with one exception, the County Clare. There has not been a society established there yet. I hope there will be soon. Anyway, up to the 18th May last the number of credit societies established was twenty-one and the total advances made by the State amounted to £33,687; that is to say, the cash transactions of these societies would be about £50,000 or very near the amount the Northern Government has put out. I believe myself that the whole sum which I am asking for will be absorbed this year. The first State advance made to any society was issued on 3rd October last and progress has since been steady. The preceding period from May to October, entailed considerable propaganda work on the part of the organisers. The following is a list of the societies, showing the State advances made to them and the corresponding local deposits:
County Cavan—Killinagh Credit Society, State advances, £369; deposits, £203 14s. od. Scrabby Co-operative Society, State advances, £330; deposits, £165. These are the only two societies formed in Cavan up to the present, but I think there will soon be more. County Donegal— Tullynaught agricultural bank, State advances. £503; deposits, £335 10s. County Kerry—Ballymacelligott co-operative credit society, State advances, £5,317; deposits, £2,658 10s.; Gneeveguilla co-operative credit society, State advances, £720; deposits, £360. Milltown and Ballyhar agricultural bank, State advances, £1,491 10s.; deposits, £759. Tralee credit society, State advances, £7,416; deposits, £3,708. In Leitrim there are six societies. Leitrim is a very poor county and to my mind it is particularly suitable for credits of this sort, or to put it the other way, credits of this sort are particularly suitable for conditions in Leitrim. Carrigallen credit society, State advances, £1,536: deposits, £768. Cloonmorris, State advances, £1,186; deposits, £790 18s. 10d. Cornageeha credit society, State advances, £204; deposits, £102. Eslin Bridge credit society, State advances, £988; deposits, £494. Gorvagh, State advances, £876; deposits, £584, and Kiltoghert credit society, State advances, £400; deposits, £200.
These are all new societies. There has been practically £3,000 put up in deposits in Co. Leitrim to over £6,000 given by the State. Leitrim is a poor county and these are all small societies. A point I want to stress is that this money has in the main been put up by farmers, small farmers, and the same applies to other counties also.