PRODUCE & MARKET REPORTS FROM DAY TO DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 143, 21 June 1927, Page 11

PRODUCE & MARKET REPORTS FROM DAY TO DAY

CO-OPERATION IDEALS

EXCHANGE OP PEODUCTS

DEVELOPING IN NEW ZEALAND

"Evening Post," 21st June.

Mr. W. T. Charter, who was recently in New Zealand with the Co-operative "Wholesale Society delegation, has been giving his views on the development o£ cooperative ideals in New- Zealand. Mr. Charter, when in Wellington, wag interviewed, by "The Post," and in the" course of his statement expressed the great interest the delegation had taken in the working of co-operation here. The deputation was, he said, not only looking for supplies'—of meat and other produce—but also for outlets for the multifarious manufactures of the society to be given in exchange for Australian and New Zealand meat, butter, cheese, and other primary products. In his latest statement on this subject of exchange of products Mr. Charter, writing in "Co-operative Newts," remarks: "One thing is certain,.that unless our friendß overseas adopt a system of co-operation in both buying and selling, they will put themselves more and more in the hands of the big financial houses, who are already controlling to a large extent the destinies of farmers, by their well-known methods of influencing the wage-earners, at the same time acting disadvantageous^ to both sections. . .

"New Zealand, being a smaller country, will, I believe, develop the co-operative ideal more quickly than can be the case in an immense country like Australia. Already one sees an awakening, as many of the creameries are being oparated on purely co-operative lines." He was glad to Bee in many of the creameries in New Zealand in which the C.W.S. is directly interested that not only was there a very high standard of efficiency, but the greatest admiration was expressed for the manner in which the produce had been dealt with on his side. "My own personal view is that if all the export trading of New Zealand has been done as satisfactorily as was the case through our own organisation, the vexed question of national control would never have arisen," he added. . •

"The future of co-operative production in Australia and New Zealand will be largely influenced by the encouragement offered by all parties concerned on this side. The moral lesson that the worker, whether industrialist or farmer, is learning both in Australia and New Zealand is that his strength lies in his determination to make co-operation a real live factor in his every-day life and business. Political action is not enough. "I come back convinced that with proper organisation and goodwill ca both sides of the water there can be a further extension of our inter-trading," wrote Mr. Charter. 'This development will cement still further the splendid feeling that exists between ourselves and those of our 'own blood in this important section of the British Commonwealth."