Co-operation

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 312, 21 September 1917, Page 3

Co-operation

[To the Editok ] Sir,—Cooperation is very good work and object is a motto and prin ciple that ought to be cherished and carried into effect by every well wihhes of his race. It is of divine origin and in the Old Book it is said, '' Ltt ue make man," and '' It is not good that mnn should be alone, I shall make for him a he'p mate." All nature's gifts ars free to the toiler. We read also in the Mosaic account of the ceation that God paid, " Behold 1 have given you every herb-bearing seed which is upon the face of the eaith and every tree in vrh : ch is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to yen, it shall be for meat." But, alas, selfish combines, tmsts, and capitalists in their greed for gain have monopolised and taken those bounteru gifts of God through the power of their wea th. and thus put the nefefsarics <>f life beyond the reach of thousai ds of earth's children who have and are starving for want of these things. God has created every man, woman and child with an equal light to live, hut yet many have to scuffle off this mortal ooi! for want of those thii gs, in the midst of plenty. In order to modify or remedy this evil co operative societies have heen established and have proved to be a thorough success and a blessing to thousands. For instance Rochdale, 01 ham, Cleaton Moor and otheis which were amongsf the first to adopt principles of true co-operation. They have proved to be so successful that cooperative societies have been established far and wide, hut like all other good things we find counterfeits spreading also far and wide. Men are trading on the name without adopting its principles and as I have written on a previous occasion I now repeat it hy saying that they are a libel on the name and a fraud to society. What then are some of the cnri'inal principles which are in accordance with the spirit of true cooperation. 1. Individuality, no matter whether they he rich or poor " a man's a man for a' that." No accumulative voting power here. One man, one vo'e Where accumulative voting is allowed one of the fundamental principles of true co-operation is destn yed and capital seeks to monopolise or usurp power over individuality. 2. All profits made after paying depreciation on fixed stocks, interest on shares at a fair marketable value, and working expenses are returnable to the consumer or supplier according to the amount spent or supplied and not according to the capital invested. •">. No matter however prosperous a co-operative concern may be, shares never rise in value, as that would be a flagrant violation of one of its fundamental principles, as the co-operative body would be doing what it objects to in the individual, and seeks to make capital out of capital at the expense of the consumer. 4. To buy for cash and sell for the same. The violation of this principle has been the rock upon which most of the co-operative concerns in this country have made shipwreck. Co operative societies can be worked as mccessfully in New Zealand as they are in the Home land, where they have been a thorough success for over fifty years. With reference to Imttor and cheese factories, there are no sound reasons why the producer should leave himself in the power of the capitalist to exploit and amass a fortune out of his labours, or at the expense of the consumer. Let the producer and consumer unite together for the common good of and and carry into effect the true principles of true and genuine co-opera-tion and no bogus concern. Yours, etc , Wm. WHINWRAY.