CO-OPERATIVE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE TRADE

DiftECTOR TO TOUR

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(Pram Oar Own CtftrMponimt) J LOS'bf>y>, is-SK XcvinUr. '

Sir Tk«««» Alter.

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Co-op-retire vVhol«a.l« %wl#.? f a. ratra* ber cf.tfife IrnpftTial si,WiO>rJ« Cckj&iJ. tee, ar.d of f.te Kapwe Jrs.rfertinj Board, m\\ s&oftjy le jV. Australf* a.ad >'ew Ztils.r.i'l &{ tf.e near! of fc w-ep* erativ-e delegation- i» sf-cdy tr»* &!•,■.?«>■ bHitre.? if ir,r.r*&stiEg. js.« safeg oi i)»5m'uMn prodce* ,stnoy;^ f.h.jir KOOO:,(10<S eonsHme.'s in this country. W&ttr.g ix the "iJj.ify sess," J-.e e-xp!3xr.3 fj-a gigBifiear.ee of tfea nd-opera-tlre OTirseasr. '".ft" basiness ir.sersats'hATe-.iivy s«ns« of Jimpii-e obligation," f-,a says/i: t&,jjcan <lrj mttr;h to direct- ffte murrtimitica of the conaTir-vsr to prefer (all tfiags being equal} to bay Empire-pTiodMcei commocir.ies; and as far as tfce eoiiscmer is rendered inarticatair: with, iftganl to his caoite of the ao-jreg- o£ supply, 'he has t'r.e right to dumani the 3iea;ns to he aide artiettlat^. "Co-operators, by teauoa oi t&elr profession, have a special place ajid duty: in thia particular. Among otiier tiilogsj directors and buyers of co-operative or* ganisations have the primary obligation of making purchase by their eoa» snmer.3 a conscious and responsible act. PUESUIT OF QXTALTXr. "Xo purchase ia cheap that maintains a low standard, or lowers th* standard of life in the producer. Tne end of conaEmers' co-operation is not the supply of cheap goods (as such}, but the pursuit of quality and the raising of life to a higher economic and ethical plane. That pursuit is of th« greatest importance, and is the. highest form of cheapness. "We know that all prosperity of a permament character depends on eflieiency, and it would be false aid to the Dominions and unfair to consumers, organised or otherwise, to suggest they have a duty to buy without consideration of quality or values. But the Dominions have proved their claim in these particulars, and that on. a high wage standard out of all comparison with their competitors. If we can. show the consumer that he has not only a duty to discharge, but an economic* advantage to gain as purchaser of Em-pire-produced commodities, wo are well on tho way to achievement. It will take time, "but the task is 7 ; worth while. : CONSTRUCTIVE EMPIBE- ; BUILDING. "Among British co-operators at Homo real constructive Empire-building is going on. There is growing up a bond of understanding and business experience that will go far to eliminate antagonism (or supposed antagonisms)^ between, producing organisations on the ono iiand and industrial distributive movements on the other. "The whole question of trade relations is entering upon a dispassionate and enlightened phase. Prank and objective discussion is permissible, accepted, and appreciated. Into that discussion the organised consumers of Great Britain are entering most heartily with every interest, and especially with the primarily co-operative producing interests of.our Dominions; and there is being laid a foundation of prosperity in .mutuality which is at once the wisest, and most profitable of all forms of Em-pire-building." 85, Fleet street..