THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 994, 17 April 1871, Page 2

THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HAWKE's BAY TIMES. In to-days Herald Economist again endeavors to enlighten the public in regard to the exorbitant prices charged for Groceries, &c. He gives quotations from an advertisement in a Wellington paper, and places Napier prices against them. But he takes the Wellington list at the parties' word without knowing anything about the quality of the goods Now if Economist thinks he can get the best tea in Wellington at 2s per lb., he is quite mistaken. One has often to pay Is 6d per lb. for good tea in China. With regard to sugar I suppose anyone in the trade will lot Economist hare a small bag for £d per lb. advance on invoice price, and 1 have often bought Otago oatmeal in small bags at 2f d per lb. in Napier. Should Economist require soap—if he will only take a small box and pay for it as he would in any larger place, he will find that he pays no more for it than he would in Wellington. I see soap advertised in Auckland at lOd per barbut a bar may contain 1,2, or 3 lbs. Wellington price for kerosine is stated at 2s 6d per gallon. But I find that 1.000 cases of a good brand were sold in Melbourne the other day from 2s 4-]jrd to 2s 6d. How then can good kerosine be sold in Wellington at 2s 6d retail, when the New Zealand market is very often supplied from Melbourne 1 A few words now for the bakers. I allow bread is far too high, but the fault is to a great extent on the part of working men ; but all seem to combine to keep up the price of bread. Both bakers and butchers seldom get ready money in Napier, and I find they have

often to give three, four, and six montha credit, and as there have been numerous failures lately, both bakers and butchers have suffered considerably. Now if working men could pay cash for what they buy, they would benefit themselves to a great extent and further the interests of the province. I am aware that a few ago a co-operative store was opened in Auckland, but I made enquires regarding it and it was thought nothing of two years after. Jt seemed to be a bad investment. I know more of cooperative societies in Scotland, and except in some of the larger towns they did not succeed, and I am aware that in one case the cooperate e store was considered the dearest store in town and failed in the course of a few years. I generally found that parties more interested in their own pockets than in the welfare of the public were the originators and generally the managers, Of course one can easily see how they could succeed in a large town, but it is far more difficult to wee the real advantage. One can suppose the workmen in a building yard forming themselves into, a society, purchase a store, and buy and sell for themselves. Buy because it is. their own stove, and at prices often fav above what is charged in other store* in the hopes of getting a dividend at the. end of six months. If the working men of Napier should foim themselves into such a society, let them take a lesson from home experience and they will be very careful who. they appoint as managers. A ILvrd Working Man. Napier, April 15, 1871,