Village Banks.

Mr. Deodhar of the Servants of India Society has been for some time past starting co-operative societies for the benefit of the poor labourers in towns and villages. On Sunday last he opened a new bank in a village called Pashan five miles from Poona. He explained to the people the advantages of depositing their savings and of building up village credit. The villagers have, it is said, made a good start with a total deposit of Rs. 500 made up by small amounts fixed for five years. In order to build up their own capital by gradual steps the members have agreed to make deposits for 10 years of 10 per cent of the loans received by them as this system is seen to have worked well in similar societies formed by the Servants of Indian Society in the neighbourhood of Poona. The efforts of Mr. Deodhar in starting village banks on this model are truly commendable, and we hope public-spirited educated men in other provinces will follow his example.