One of the difficulties with which ce-operation might well deal was th: fragmentation of holdings. In Chins it happened that a farmer might possess odd plots of land on every side of the village. This was unjeconcmic and greatly complicated the problem of cultivating and marketing. By consolidation of these holdings either by compulsion, as has been applied in Europe, or by voluntary agreement through the influence of [the ce-operative societies az in one }part of India; the farmer would be helped to get rid of that difficulty.
There was a great future Lefore cooperation in China, provided enthusiasm did not try to go too fast Jwithout requisite "experience and training. The Chinese farmer, ex-Jcelient cultivator as he was, with admirable gifts of organization and Jcombination, was handicapped by uneven taxation, unfair treatment by the landlords, and by the prevalence fof banditry." The Communists had Jsucceeded in certain provinces because they, at any rate, had led to ]do away with the evils of oppressive landlords and uneven taxation. But other respects their methods were unsatisfactory.
He did not think that Communism }was a suitable doctrine for China. AS the same time, he would be sorry to see China adopting some of the more grievous errors of capitalism, Jand if he were attempting to. prescribe for this country, he would recommend system of capitalism controlled by operative organization which enrouted to ensure for each indivi dual a fair return for his labour and enabled the farmers by uniting in roups to got in direct touch with the big mills and the big exporters without the intervention of numerous agents who were wasteful in. thole competitive activities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.