Fehér György szerk.: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 1992-1994 (Budapest, 1994)

11. Nemzetközi Gazdaságtörténeti Kongresszus, 1994., Milánó (llth International Economic History Congress) - FEHÉR GYÖRGY: Agricultural associations in Hungary in the late 19th century

the numerical ratio of its membership. The Association extensively contributed to the development of Hungarian agriculture, in some cases as official or semi-official adviser of the government, as well as through its publications, press, meetings, exhibitions and professional knowledge. According to the statutes modified in 1882 the duty of the Association can be summarized as follows: a/ coordination of the work of country agricultural associations; b publication of agricultural journals and books; c/ making expert's opinions for the government; d/ arranging cxhibitons; e/ establishment of an agricultural and horti cultural museum; 17 founding and granting awards; g/ organizing study-tours at home and abroad; li7 introduction of model farms; if purchase of machines and implements, seeds from abroad; j/ carrying on comparative experiments; k/ inviting applications lor competitions; 17 organization of model farms; m/ establishment of new agricultural educational institutions and support of the existing ones. In addition to all these, the Association took care of the relies and memory from the past of Hungarian agriculture, fought for worthy acknowledgement of outstanding representatives of agrarian life. It always responded rather promptly to the changes taking place in the sphere of agriculture, and if they were of great importance, the Association made suggestions for solving the problem, in case of necessity modifying the statutes. Beginning from the '90s — when co-operation movement, having had moderate results as compared to West European developments, could at last show success — the statutes of 1896 stated that the Association "assists with moral, and, in the case of new enterprises, financial support the establishment of credit, consumer's, sale, insu ranee and other co-operations, associations, societies, movements, aiming at the promotion of agricultural interests." Further on we are going to investigate into the internal structure of OMGE, the mechanism ot its functioning and try to get answer If) the very important question of how it could fulfil the willingly undertaken duty of interest-safeguarding and how it could enforce political and economic interests of the class of big and medium landowners making up the majority of its membership. According to the statutes of the Association, every individual or legal entity having landed property or practising in agriculture could be member of OMGE. The membership consisted of life members, foundation members and members paving yearly due. They were only distinguished according to the sum of the grant offered to the As sociation and their staff was supplemented by the honorary members elected bv the general assembly. Main decision-making board of the Association was the general assembly, where the honorary members were not entitled to vote. At the request of at least 50 members — giving their motives in writing — an extraordinary general assembly had to be convoked. The general assembly elected the president heading the Association and fulfilling usually protocol tasks, who, without exception, came from the aristocracy. However, no! only his descent but also professional knowledge and devotedness to the development of agriculture made the president suitable for fulfilling this office. His work was assisted by three vicepresidents, also elected bv the general