CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2306, 28 May 1886, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

CO-OPERATION,

[To the Editor.]

Sib,—Jn Max Adelers amusing book "Out of the hurly burly," there is an interesting little anecdote of the sufferings of a small family who investod in a patent combination pair-of-steps-cum-sofa-oura-ironing-table contrivance in the hope that they would obtain three articles for the prioe of one. The disasters begin when the machine is in tho steps form. The maid is aloft dusting the parlor gas chimneys,'when she hap. pens accidently to touch one of the .springs. There is i sharp creak, the steps suddenly become an ironing table, and the maid finds herself on the floor with the shattered glass around her. The next experience with the arrangement is when it is in use as an ironing table. A sudden jar is given by the flat iron coming down too flat or something of the sort, and before the cook can say Jack Robinson, iron, itonstand, clothes, and blankets are shot off in all directions, and the table whizzes'up into its steplike shape. The third experience is with it as a sofa, when it rests in peace until aat upon by the cook and her admirer, when it deftly whips them off in opposite direction, clattors up into a table, and bofore they havo time to secure it, undergoes another transformation and opens out on end into the stops with which it began its career. In short the combination provos too automatic, and is put away in the lumber-room, where it bocomes a regular family ghost, and frequently indulges in (. little performance all to itself. Although the picture-is a little overdrawn, the moral it conveys is unfortunately a true one, Combination articlos as a rule have the disadvantage of each of the combined articles, and tho full advantages of none. The foregoing was in my mind, sir, whilst 1 was reading the prospectus of a local Co-operator's enterprise. 1 saw the variety of interests in the provisional directory, and I thought to myself won't they enjoy themselves when they come to share the losses. Fancy a lot of tradesmen co-operating to ruin' one of their own number. Whoso turn will come next, 1 wonder; the tinsmith, the blacksmith, or tho advertising smith ? 1 sco it is stated that the liability is limited, but it requires aomothing moro thana mere assertion in an advertisement to limit the responsibility of anyone takingupsharesiiianunwisteredSocioty. It is no doubt honestly moant, but ignorance will not be a satisfactory plea when the best man amongst those who have been verdant enough to " touch tho pen" is called upon to mako good all deficiencies. However, it is ouly for life, bo it does not much matter. Live and let live is a stale motto. I am, etc., ORusir.