INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 89, 12 October 1920, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION

The Pioneer Club Room was well filled last nrght with membefs of the Women's National Council, representatives of the affiliated societies, and citizens interested in the movement. Mr. Tidman, the speaker for the evening, was introduced by Miss Coad, M.A., president of the W.Jf C, who was in the chair.

Mr. Tidman.said that, the industrial co-operative movement originated in 1843, when a few weavers with a capital of £30 started at Rochdale, and this had developed into a movement which had^ been referred to as "the miracle of" modern history." It had developed into j a great business which owned its. own. coal-fields, tea plantations, banks, etc., and by 1914 showed 147£ millions of profits. Part of theseyf unds/ bad been de- * voted to education^-about Jf}l,l3OjOoO—. and a magnificent college was being built in Scotland for the children of workers. Mr. Tidman emphasised the fact that at present good^ must be obtained from the local merchants, till'they were produced in the country, or till the society could get in touch with ,the big centres in the Old Country, and therefore the goods would be sold at much the same rate as in other retailers' establishments. The 1 point of interest, was - that all profits ! would be returned to shareholders, or, with their consent, be retained to extend ' the business. The first plank in the platform of the I.C.M. was production and distribution of pure, good food. All concerned in the business were shareholders, and in England boards of management were elected by shareholders," their work being voluntary and not paid. Mr. Tidman maintained that'it was better not to be continually cutting prices, but to maintain them and give the profits to the consumers. He mentioned that there was. in New Zealand already an enthusiastic pioneer band of workers in ! the cause of the I.C.M. At Runanga 281 miners had subscribed a capital of i £7456; sales amounted to £26,400 • the I returns to members came to 35^ per cent. for the year. At Marton, where a very i siftall beginning had been made, the capital was only £177, but the profits were £38, being 48 per cent. Wellington, of course, would have to be content with much less than that. Mr. Tidman concluded with a quotation from a social and democratic lecturer of 1907, who said : "How the day of power has dawned , for the labouring classes, and with the power comes danger. If they return evil for evil, and in their hour exact more than is their dne, they will fall hopelessly and unregarded like other . tyrants before them. But if they re- | solve to carry out the law of co-operatioh with justice and mercy they have a bettsr hope than kings or priests have ever had." Mr. Tidman made a brief and earnest appeal for support for a movement' which mads for the happiness and prosperity of all classes. A discussion followed. Mr. Dalziell suggested that as co-operation was urgently needed here ; and now, ifc would be wise to see if the large established businesses would 1 not come in under the movement. The suggestion was not accepted by the lecturer. The following motion was passed: "That this meeting is of opinion that the industrial co-operative movement when placed under efficient management and capable and disinterested direction deserves strong support from all sections of the community." The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the epea-ker.