CONSUMER CO-OPERATIVES

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1947, Page 2

CONSUMER CO-OPERATIVES

GROWTH OF MOVEMENT A meeting at the Druids' Hall, Otaki, on Monday night was addressed by Mr. G. H. Churton, organising secretary of the N.Z. Federation of Co-operatives. Mr., Churton illustrated how eooperative societies were effecting economies in - the. cost of living. The. "Rochdale" principles, on which they operate, stipulate that all members shall have equal voting power at the general meeting, and that no dividends are to be paid. Profits, or trading surpluses, are rebated to members in proportion to the amount they spend in the store during _the year. The' history of the British Cooperative Movement was briefly traced, and the speaker described how the first co-op shops in England had expanded during 100 years into the largest distributive organisation in Great Britajn, handling a quarter of the nation's rationed goods. The annual turnover in England is £350,000,000, and co-operative membership numbers 9,500,000. An interesting survey of the development of consumer- - cooperation in New Zealand was made, emphasis being iaid on the rapid growth of the. /movement in Palmerston Nbrth, wiiere they had seven groeeries, seven butcheries and a modern bakery operating on ihe "Rochdale" principles. - Mr. Churton stated that the mbvement was gaining wide popularity in New . Zealand, and that the numbef -of co-op. stores in the Dominion was now 60.