CO-OPERATION AND LABOUR POLICY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 3

CO-OPERATION AND LABOUR POLICY

1 alternative to nationalisation M (Reviewed by A.R.) K, e British Co-operative Movement ■ in a Socialist Society. By G. D. q h. Cole. Allen and Unwin Ltd. (I 135 L English published price 12s I « d - ■ For some time before the last General Election in Britain it was obvious Kat the Labour Party was seriously K viced on many questions. Mr Kneuim Bevan and his friends were Kssting on the need to spend more Kne, money and energy on the socialKation of certain industries wtyle the Karty leaders were in favour oi mark■~tf nine on that side while a colossal Kcrmament programme was got under Kaj-. Several recent publications have town now deep were these internal Kvisions and now the intellectuals Ktside the r-ariiamentary party were ■imilarly divided. Many of the problems raised concerned the national■cation oi industries and services— Kow fast and how far? In his book ■Restatement of Liberty," Patrick Gor-■jon-Walker, then Secretary of State ■or Commonwealth Relations and a ■ormer Oxford don. was concerned ■with finding a political philosophy' L-hich challenged both Liberalism and fcommunisrn and gave liberty and in-1 Eividual rights a chance of survival. Because he called a halt to the proCramme of nationalisation, he was Eercely attacked by the Left Wing of foe Labour Party. Now, another Oxford don. Professor G. D. H. Cole, has (written a book which shows that, alfoough he remains a Socialist, he does Lot believe in nationalisation as a! fcanacea. In his study of the British Co-operative movement, he shows that fee is convinced that nationalisation Sas been carried as far as is practicable. Consequently, he advocates a Considerable development of producers’ Co-operative societies to take over Email <ad middle-sized enterprises (which are unsuitable for nationalised ■control. ■_This book was written for the ■Fabian Society at a time when it ■seemed that the Labour Government heeded a fresh orientation of ideas fend principles. It contains interesting (information concerning the history of (the co-operative movement since the (days when the Rochdale pioneers set lup their first society and store in 1844. In those days, Socialism—Owenite Socialism—and co-operation meant very much the same thing. The OwenBte Socialists never dreamed that [Socialism meant, or even involved, [“nationalisation” or the taking over of foe ownership and conduct of industry py the State. They looked forward Bo a form of common ownership which |was essentially local, and they inKended to produce in common what kas needed for their own consumption |cr for exchange with similar local [groups producing other commodities. [They began with a small grocery shop [where the emphasis was naturally on consumers’ interests. The shop and [eventually the movement prospered: business success led to the dropping of the Owenite Socialist objectives. The result has been that the co-opera-tive movement has gone on growing end has increasingly attracted into its membership a large number who are merely interested in a secure investment for small savings on favourable terms. To-day the co-operative movement of Great Britain has more than 10.000 000 members, who represent a verv much larger number of confumers. Of course many of these members are primarily concerned with co-operation as a form of business organisation. and are in no way inclined to regard it as the partner of Socialism. Professor Cole reminds readers of the original ideals of the Rochdale pioneers. He is anxious to see much greater stress laid in the co-operative movement on production and producers’ control. As a Socialist he wants to see large scale capitalist organisation superseded by a democratic system more in kaeping with his ideas of social equality. His plan for the development of the co-operative movement lays great stress on producers’ co-operative societies and envisages their undertaking “a constructive partnerebio with the welfare State.” in this way. he thinks, the movement will contribute to a more satisfactory and more responsible system of democratic economic organisation than the schemes tor nationalisation which ’ were being supported 'by some sec- I lions of the Labour Party. He cri(i- 1 cists the leadership of the co-opera- j five movement, holding that it has) concentrated on dividends and savings j rather than on long-term planning: which might revitalise the movement. | He pleads for better training of i leaders, for a new attitude to higher education, for higher salaries and modern techniques of management, I and for the penetration of the movement into industries hitherto neglected—the cinema, garages and service stations, restaurants and hotels. Professor Cole is a good propagandist: he presents a clear and attractive case in a very readable form. He supplies the statistics and information on the co-operative movement as it is which make his book a mine of information on the subject. Even though Labour was defeated at the last British election, this book will remain interesting as a blueprint of possible development under a Labour Government of the future. Those who are opposed to Socialism no less I than its advocates should read this book in order to learn what the critics of nationalisation within the Labour Party have in mind for the development and control of industry.