CO-OPERATIVE STORE MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 827, 22 February 1878, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE STORE MEETING.

. : — o — accordance with advertisement a meeting was held on Saturday evening last, the 16th. inst., in the Library, Alexandra, to discuss the advisability of starting a ’Cooperative. Store Company. About forty persons were present, including several of the tradesmen of the town. Mr J. C. Chappie having been voted to the chair, Mr J. Mackersie opened the proceedings by showing the advantages, in the way of cheap living, that could he gained by the inhabitants combining to start a Co-opera-tive Store, Butchery, and Bakery, particularly in the articles of bread and meat, and stated it would be the means of breaking up the present monoply of large profits. He further said that they had canvassed Speargrass, and had been very successful, having several hundred pounds’ worth of shaves promised to be taken up. Mr Daniels followed by reading a paper showing the basis on which the new Company was to he started, and intimated their intention of sending the present storekeepers to New Guinea. Mr J. Simmonds said he had several questions he wished to ask Mr Mackersie, viz., how he proposed to make a Co-opera-tive Store , pay with a population of only some 200, .many of whom are not able, at all times to command ready money ; and in a place where (without intending any offence) one storekeeper had not been able to pay his way, and another had not been able to pet a roof on bis store yet after being in business oyer fourteen years. He (Mr Simmonds) also wished to know whether, with Mr Mackersie, it was not a question of Co-operative Store v. Bridge. Mr Mackersie replied that he had been in the habit of petting his drapery from Dunedin, and thereby had effected a great savini:, particularly in the articles of calico, women’s stockings, and .children's socks. In answer to a question whether tbo promoters had come prepared with a statement of. the prices at which they could obtain goods, the probable weekly receipts and profits, and the expenses in insurance, horse feed, wages, &c., Mr Mackersie stated that they had not come prepared, but thought they could camy on with LIOOO capital, and wages for three men would be probably L 6. (Question: “Each?”) No, for the three. ~ Mr Daniels : No, the Manager is to get L 4. .A Voice : I believe there are several of. the promoters waiting for a billet. .Mr Mackersie: The present business places support forty persons, including servants, women, and children, and the business proposed could be conducted by three. (A Voice : “Then you must not have married men.” Mr Mackersie wished to withdraw’ the remark, and proceeded to state that it the Company was not started he intended to get his own groceries up from town ; but what bothered him was the broad and meat. Bystander : Yon can get y our meat np potted. Mr .A. Cameron was the next speaker, Mr and himself holding an argument on. the cos price of sheep, Mr Cameron accusing his'opponent of getting bis mutton from Speargrass without charging for the Berry. ..Mr Hirers mentioned the Co-operative Stores in Dunedin, and referred to one and stated that he had good authority in saying that it had lost considerably over HOO the first, year, and only had 7s 6d the second year to divide among the whole of the shareholders ; and ho also stated that the Co-operative stores started at Naseby and Tokomairiro had collapsed through not paying expenses, but agreed that Co-operative stores had succeeded in large centres of population, particularly where manufactures were carried on, and the shares distributed among a number of men in receipt of weekly wages. Mr Kinnaird next addressed the meeting, and commenced by stating that he considered some of the previous speakers had been endeavoring to throw obstacles in the way, and thought a Co-operative store would be a success, and that in his native town one had been started bn fifty 2s 6d shares, which had succeeded, &c. Mr Finlay made some reply about it being sufficient to start here, anil buy a bag of flour. Mr Daniels next stfted tbat the storekeepers here were driving their carts round the districts, and each had’to miss several places, while the Co-operative cart'cbulfl’co from door to door and supp’y them.

Mr itivoi : Have you the presumption to th.ol; chat > on could, monopolize the whole ol ae era ’c ’! Mr Daniels said that storekeepers were only vvolves m sheep’s clothing ; but on being informed that it was generally supposed that he had been in the line himself he appeared anxious to let further discussion on the matter drop. A motion was then proposed— That the meeting be adjourned for a month to enable the promoters to submit a statement of the probable receipts, expenditure, &c. !, An amendment was then put—That a Committee bo formed to start a Company, &c. The amendment was carried there being seven for and three against. A further amendment—That a Company be formed' to raise funds to buy out one of the stores already in existence, was ruled humbug, and was not put to the meeting. After a vote of thanks to the chair the meeting dispersed, five of the Co-operatives remaining, including tho 2s Cd share gentleman.