THE CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1879, 22 July 1884, Page 3

THE CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

TO THK KDIiOK. Sir, — In reply to " Whatawliata Farmer," who is a shareholder in the North New Zealand Farineis' Co jjerative Association, I should like to remind him of the old saying—" An enemy in the camp is woise tluin many outside." I think he must be blind to his own, and also the intetests of the association by writing as he did in your Thuisday's issue. From the tone of his letter one would infer that he was under the impression the directors were working this institution for their own aggrandisement. Now, I think he could very easily have his mind disabused of that idea if he could wiite a letter to the directors stating his complaints. I think it would be wise if any shaieholder has cause for complaint, to write to the diiectois. I don't doubt but that " Whatawliata Farmer" may be able to buy his seeds, &c, at a lower price than the association are selling at, but it does not necessarily follow that they are cheaper. It is a fact that the Na\ igation Co. dropped their coals 7s per ton at Cambridge on the Ist of this month. Should we pat them on the back for this ? Should we not rather say that it is our infant institution is the cause, and if they, along with other merchants, are lowei ing the pi ices ot their goods, it is not because they wish to do so, for I have it first hand from a large seed merchant's tiaveller from Auckland, that they, along with others, intend doing their best to run us off the road. Now I maintain they cannot do this, if we are only true to our best inteiests, because we can buy in as cheap a market and manage our business economically ; therefore, it rests with the shareholders giving this institution all the suppoit in their power, and if they do we shall not very easily be wiped out. I should also wish to inform him that the directois have not gob unlimited resources at their command to go to the best markets in the world, as the fourth instalment is not yet due, and if we are already touching a tender place upon existing interests, what may we not do when we have half the capital of the association to work upon. — I am, &c, Co OPERATOR. Cambridge, July 17th, 1884.

A wag stepped into a saloon, and, after taking a view at the knot of sitters together round the stove, without speaking to any of them, began to count heads audibly, pointing first to himself and then to each expectant bummer. He counted one, two, three, "four, five. "Bar-tender, six glasses of beer." Instantly ten bloodshot eyes gleamed with delightof expectancy ; five necks straightened ; five pairs of feet were drawn together for a rise ; five mouths were cleared of tobacco : five coat-sleeves drawn across five pairs of parched, to-bacco-stained lips, involuntarily smacking with sweet anticipations. Six glasses of lager were, ranged in a row on the bar, when the joker, without deigning a glance at the thirsty objects of his enumeration proceeded to' r stow away, the six glasses of •* hop water "in' short order, fco" the very, evident ApWVtf , and disappointment of the iaid "'entiinerated,.," ■ who«ac'h -heaved iC sight of vegvtff&dA muttered. wefoUy,," BsW-V; x -"-' - '