CO-OPERATIVE STORES.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 53, 15 March 1912, Page 14

CO-OPERATIVE STORES.

Sir,—l have been an interested reader of your paper from the beginning, and t wish you would write some articles ou co-operation or get some one well up in the subject to ventilate the matter in your paper. It seems wo do not gain much by striking for higher wages when the price of everything goes lip disproportionately every time. Now it lias often struck mc that if working-men would only .make a start in trade on their own, and open a store to be run by and for tho workingclass principally, they would reap considerable benefit. Take, butter, for example. The capitalists, whenever it suits them, calmly put the price up. Now, this might be avoided by co-oper-ation. Then, again, see what a splendid chance it would give the workingclass to gain experience in taking over some day the control of "production, distribution, and exchange," which is the main platform of Socialism. Look what happened in London some years ago. A few civil servants conceived the idea of buyiig a chest of tea at the wholesale prico and distributing it amongst themselves, thus obtaining the article considerably cheaper than the shops were charging. From that small beginning the Civil Service Stores started, until now the turnover amounts to millions, the members obtain everything cheaper, and large dividends are earned.

Now, what is to prevent this bring don© hi New Zealand on a smaller scale? The surplus earned, if aJiy, would belong to the workers, and could be utilised to further their cause, help to support a daily paper, and assist the propaganda, etc. Of course, there are difficulties iv the way. The capitalists would oppose any such scheme and try and boycott it, but every progressive move has mot with opposition from interested parties and vested interests. Could we not start a co-operative society, say of a thousand members, at £1 a share., payable in ss. instalments, no member allowed to hold, more than one share (so as to prevent capitalists buying np the concern, to obtain control)? It-has ftnewered well in the North of England, where the member-

ship (principally workers) ie counted by thousands, much to their mutual benefit. —Yours, etc., Well. "A WELL-WISHER-