CO-OPERATION.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4022, 18 November 1881, Page 2

CO-OPERATION.

(To the Editor of the Bveniks Star.)

Sib,—Philosophy may err, scientific maxims may prove false, but figures when honestly employed make no mistakes. Examined by this test, co-operation is an unlimited humanizing fact—a moral, a good and useful fact; a truly real unadulterated great Christian fact. Iv 1860 England had thirty-one only manufacturing co-operative companies, either at work or in progress, with uu aggregate capital of one million and eighty-eight thousand pounds. The general post office and other trading societies, based upon the oo> operative principle, involving millioae of itpital jiai ilioussiicls of saeitbars, h&v«

profed most successful. The Civil Servic Supply Association hiis four thousand five hundred-members, with an annual business of over one million sterling. Rochdale, Manchester, possesses co operative companies, which are extensive cotton spinning works, where hundreds of operators, and many shareholders, are em ployed.

Aecrngton, 2882 members—Capital, £41,250. Bacup, 2457 members—Capital, £44 859. Bolton, 2566 members—Capital, £40,785. Bury, 6460 members—Capital, £86,940. Leigh, 2502 members—Capital, £46,509. Manchester, 4466 members—Capital, £35,596. Halifax, 7400 members-Capital £171,394. Some large companies in Rochdale have 11,425 members, with a capital of £376,032, and an annual business of £712,200; Oldham (four societies), 7725 members, with a capital of £160,000, and an annual business of £14,000; whilst Lancashire and other manufacturing districts have equally numerous and wealthy companies. Northumberland has an extensive co-operative compauy for ship building. Companies exist also for manufacturing silk, cloth, boots, shoes, cigars, clothing, and almost every necessity. A large portion of these however are simply trading societies; the remainder are co operative societies proper—that is, when the members make or produce the various articles sold by them, such as the north of England, which is a federation of Co.'s to purchase direct from producers, and sell wholesale to members, or in other words, to take upon themselves the functions of wholesale dealers. In 1872 these companies had j £1,139,767 capital, making an annual profit of £112,000. Scotland has about 250 of these Societies and Ireland about 20. At the end oi 1875 the total number of these Societies in England and YWales was 749, with 201,157 members, and a capital amounting to £2,786,965. Doing a business annually of £11,397,225, and yielding a profit of £1,500,000 annually. It must be borne in mind that these Societies exist in large numbers throughout Europe and America. They may be commenced with the smallest amount of capital and the fewest number of members, and they may be enlarged to an unlimited extent.. In 1861 the Eochdale Equitable Pioneer Company commenced with 28 members and a capital of £28. In 1872 it had 6,444 members, a capital of £134,167, and was doing an annual business of about £300,000. Of course the vital principle is ready money. The figures quoted are not intended to give in any degree a correct account of the extent to which this principle is carried in England, and much less so in Europe and America. They are adduced rather as an evidence of the vitality of a new»development in social economics, and to show that this principle has, and must continue to receive increased public notice, for it is a sign of an extraordinary change in the position and prospects of the operative classes, and is therefore eminently deserving of. consideration. If the principle of co-operation is extensively adopted fabulous amounts of wealth can be produced. It should iherefore be encouraged by every available means and side by side with it such powers as will destroy the terrible system which grinds labour to duat. Under the co-operative system the labourer seeks to place his sinews, bones, muscles apd the intelligence to use them igainßt capital and machinery. -He knows that amassed-prpperty has been torn from himself and'f predecessors,. and he is determined no longer to slave f«.r the benefit of one man, to the irreparable injury of himself and fellow-workmen. He knows that the whole trade and commerce of the world rests in the hands of labour. He is'beginning to know his power, and- henceforth will use it rationally.l—l am, &c, Labotjbeb.