THE CO-OPERATIVE STATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 14

THE CO-OPERATIVE STATE

Outlined by Mr B. Roberts & Mr D. von Sturmer HASTINGS ADDRESS "Democracy ls in danger of talking itself into failure We must havo action," said Mr. Ben Boberts, M.P., president of the New Zealand Co-operative Alliance, in urging the support of tjie, co-operative movement to a meeting in Hastings last night. .Mr. T. Hanlon presided. "The good old times Iiave been good, hut the future can he greater than the past, if we apply the principles of co-operation," he said. "The times are pregnant with great poisibilities," stressed Mr Roberts. -"Co-operation is not a mere trading ^nterprise, but is intended to lead to a ifcew life for the people." The Labour Government believed in |fe-ue co-op©ration. Ihe objective of the jljfew Zealand Alliance was a co-opera-tive commonwealth based on service. jOo-operation was not a mere raatter of »eJling tea or sugar, but a principle of democracy capable of challenging ihe Fascist States arising in the world #o-day. President Roosevelt recognised the jwdne'-of oo-operation and was having Ihe co-operative movement in Europe investigated with a view to its introfeiction and development in the TJnited &&tes» ^To ensnre the snccess of co-operation joaoper znental development was requir^d to^Jeara ihe art of coming together. CJcmipetitive concerns oame .together in $znost*^ for self-protection, and the walker®, throu&h. the co-operative sogrement could do the same. Co-opera-lkm;;aimed to develop gronp consciousfcfilsaiao that the benefits of modei'n life^obnld be made availdble equitably, •olthat mankind could go along an eveo^path. Ij'The World At Our Feot.M **Tbe stago is set for the most wonderful period in the world'® history, providing we co-operate. Once we learn onity " we can have what we want and jfch# world ia at our feet," said the speaker, ."We destroy our lives in individualism when we can build up to a wonderful and glorioue future. There is a spirit moving in New Zealand today — the paramount spirit of oo-opera-tion — which would work out to the ultimate benefit of the people. Once we gefc that we will move on from victory to victory." "World co-operation could do away with the clash of arma and the horrors of war. said Mr Roberts. "We are all consumers and on that consumptive plane w© can get together. The co-op-erative movement is non-political, although I will admit that it ia receiving the bulk of its support from the workers, because they have felt the pressure of economic depression." Mr Roberts said that ihe capitalistic system destroyed the moraX responsibilities of the community, the buyer having to pay for the defaleations of others. Co-operation restored this morah integrity* "Ihero ara difficulties to be overcome, but in an ordered state of society every man will render that share of cneative life to make lif© better," concluded Mr Roberts. ' 'Human lif© is the higbest and paramount value in the State, and co-operation recognised this. New Zealand can be a beacon-light to the rest of the world through co-opera-tion." ' Secretary's views. Mr D. von Sturmer, secretary of the Alliance, also spok© and defined co-op-eration as working together for the definite objectiv© of the co-operative comVnonwealth, providing a sufficiency ©f food, olothing, shelter and leisure. Mr vont Sturmer traced the early history of th» joo-operative movement in England, with ihe luccessful ©stablishment of the feet co-operative at Rochdale on a capital of £28. The initial rules of the Rochdale group were still the accepted rules of eo-operation — namely, one man, one vote; open membership ■ open dealings \ distribution of trading surpluses; and control vested in the hands of an elected committe© of management. Cash trading was also a basic principle, although credit trading was possibl© under certain conditxons, protecting the society. Th© co-operative movement was a service and not profit-making concern. The speaker quoted figures to ehow the growth of the movement in Great Britain. To-day the capital was £250,000,000, with trading in 1936 of £400,000,000, with a staff of 300,000. Nof Speculative Production. With co-operative buying awi selling there was no speculative production and no waste as compared with the ordimiry proprietary business. JDepressions were brougnt about by over-pro-duction and lulJs, with consequent shortening of credits, cutting of prjces, reducticm of wages-k cumulative effect— u ith_ shiinidng xnarkcts, inereased production all but the etrongest firms going to the wall — and a form of trustification resulting. • . "We aim at an equitab]£ distribution of goods and servioes," said Mr von Sturmer. "As Ruskin said, 'Competition is death ; co-operation is life.' vompetition means the evils of unemployment and charitable aid, the destruction of goods while people go without- Co-operation means adequate distribution." Co-operation removed overlapping in distribution with a consequent saving m costs and reductioxis in charges • the saving being passed back to the comViunity, yet only a small reduction in staffa resulted. The saving to the cousumer was spent by inereased purchases, with a consequent increase in tbe standard of living, the demand for consumer goods and consequent growth in employment. This was proved by actual fact in towns wher© co-operation was predominaat. This showed that cooperation was for tho good of a oomnmnity. It was servic© as opposed ,to »r«fit.