Co-operative Store for Gisborne.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 409, 13 September 1876, Page 2

Co-operative Store for Gisborne.

Sir.—ls there anything peculiar in the atmosphere of this district, or in the constitution of its inhabitants, for both it and them to be “sat upon?” It is well known how the Government have treated us as a people and district that can lie trifled with and imposed upon. And so in the matter of what we eat, drink, wear, and use, we are treated as mere children. The price of everything is excessively high, out of all proportion to other places; and if any attempt to challenge the exorbitant prices is made, we are laughed at, and made to appear as idiots, not knowing what we are talking about. But there is no mistaking the letters of “Prudence” and “ Moderation.” They have ventilated a matter that must end in establishing a co-operative store here, that the heavy burdens from which we have been suffering for many a long day, may be removed, and if the Gisborne folks have any dash or pluck about them’, and I am certain they have, they will not be “ sat upon,” but will unite in making this store a success. Of course, it will embrace butchers’ meat, so that no sudden, nor extraordinary freaks of nature may be practised upon us. • Jjo pranks, sir, such as those lately resorted to;—informing the public that.in* consequence of the scarcity qfcfeetf- ttyf the difficulty in obtaining fat cdttle, tf-e., ihutton and beef will be raised Id per pound, and afterwards telling the “ big bouses ” the price is not raised at all. But it is said mutton is always dearer as shearing time advances, because of the wool, yet in my simplicity I always thought the butchers got the wool. Do they return it to the growers ? When a man has a bad cause, and cannot prove his points, he begins to abuse. Such is “ Yokel’s ” conduct. To show how general co-opcrative societies have become, how extensively they are patronised, and how well they pay, may be gleaned from the following quotations :— “A General Meat Co-operative Supply Association, with. a capital of £75,00(1, has been formed in London—the Earl of Hardwieke and LordLurgan as patrons.” “The Selkirk Co-operative Store Company reported sales for the last year to the amount of £27,067, leaving a profit to be divided of £2,587.” “ Co-operative laundries, bakeries, coal depots, and stores for groceries, meats and provisions, have been opened in Berlin, under the supervision of women. The membership embraces 6,000 families.” —I am, &c., Justice.