CO-OPERATION

Evening Post, Volume CCXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1938, Page 10

CO-OPERATION

HELP TO DEMOCR/OT

THE WAY TO EFFICIENCY

A BEACON LIGHT'

Stating that it was generally recognised that economic planning on a national basis was almost inevitt title,1 the Minister of Finance (the Hon. "..W. Nash),' when speaking at the openting of the first holiday camp of Co-opeci-tive Holidays at Hokio Beach, near lU'--vin.-on Saturday afternoon, discuss ipcl the value of co-operation and its lir.tis: with, democratic principles. Co-opera, tion stood out like a beacon light in a, world where dictators were imposing^ their authority upon the people, heu said, and through co-operation de-J mocracies could be made as efficient as< the nations that were securing efficiency at the cost of lost political freedom. Co-operation could also have a j bearing on tho better organisation of production and distribution. "It is now generally agreed that economic planning on a national basis is almost inevitable," the Minister said. , "Under any system of sound, economic, . and scientific planning there should be • ample-scope for the people themselves , to have both the power and the wil- , lingness1 to contribute to the planning. Along the lines of free, democratically organised co-operation for com'munal objects we have the greatest chance of building the right kind of state and the right kind of social philosophy among the people. THE RACE TODAY. "The race today is between economic collapse, with ■ the unknown horrors collapse would unleash, and the rise of a united democratic movement with a practical programme of far-reaching social change and the will to make its programme effective against the vested interests now rallying in defence .of their privilege. The value of 1 the strength and example of co-opera- i tion will depend upon the vigour and . courage of its representatives and upon . the-wisdom shown by organised politi- ; cal'.forces in learning the lesson .co- ■ operation has to teach. i "At the- time when democratic in- ; stitutioKs are everywhere being men- : accd by forces of Fascism and dictatorship," said. Mr. Nash, "there is an : urgent obligation on everyone who be- j lieves'ih the democratic ideal to sup- ; port and encourage any movement ■which will strengthen the basis of democracy. "The,principle of co-operation is in- ' dissolubly linked with the ideal of ' democracy. Democracy in the widest ■ sense.of the term cannot be completely ] realised except in a co-operative society. Co-operation postulates not '< merely, political democracy—which we ; have' already achieved —but economic ■ democracy which we have experienced i as yet only to a very limited degree, '. and /which is really much more im- < portant. .. . . j SIMILAR AIMS. ] "The aims and aspirations of the co- j operative movement are essentially the , aims and aspirations of the Labour ] Government—to so organise our pro- . ductive. and .distributive resources as ] to provide the highest possible stand- , ard of living for all sections of the community.: , ' ] Under a co-operative system produc- i tion: is for consumption and not for private profit. Under a co-operative ' society, the profit motive is subordinated to the ideal of service. Willingness to organise business with social aims then becomes a requisite to business survival. Co-operation was the best way to that peaceful economic change which the cause' of democracy and the needs of the times so urgently demanded, Mr. Nash said, and the cultural aspects of ' co-operation implied fuller scope for ,the. development of the individual human personality. The co-operative movement in New ' Zealand was typical of New Zealand, Mr. Nash continued. It was an association of working people and working, farmers, and not a group of people specialised in one craft or contained in one part of the country—it was the country and found its roots with those who worked and gave service. . The Co-operative Holiday Society was typical of the larger group. It was composed of working farmers and working men. ''Those who co-operate are people ■who know what they want," said Mr. Nash, "but they do not wait for someone to put it into their lap—they go ahead and get it. They are individualists in the best sense. They do not like spoon-feeding, and they do not like dictation. They co-operate.

• "In this particular venture —holidays, education, and recreation—those who are co-operating are doing their own work, choosing their own life, choosing what they want to study, and choosing who shall teach them. They have discovered the key. Individualism without co-operation leads to chaos. Individualism with co-operation leads to the full life, to ordered progress."

There was a close link between education1 and the co-operative movement, he added. The first W.E.A. Committee arid the co-operative movement had the same persons directing activities. The co-operative societies in England and the Co-operative Union placed great stress on education, and it was the aim that each society should have a fulltime educational secretary. It was pleasing to note that the co-operative movement in New Zealand had so quickly taken steps to establish an educational side. In education lay the way to light—and it was the type of education that the co-operative movement was interested in which would give the best hope of stability for the world-and a full life for the individual.

PRESENT IMPORTANCE,

■ "At the present stage in world affairs the co-operative movement is especially important," the Minister cpntinued. "In a world of dictatorships; of leadership, and authority imposed from above, the co-operative movement stands .out like a beacon light—nay, more than a beacon light; it not 'only shows the way, but takes you along the way." The Minister then quoted an article on the future of democracy and the need for efficiency if democracy is to survive.

"Dictatorship is sterile; co-opera-tion gives life," he declared. "Cooperation is democracy, and. democracy is co-operation, a co-operation which gives to the individual his full rights. In the political world each man has a vote, and by his vote helps to determine the political and social life of the country. But there are some fields where his vote and his voice and his individuality have little effect. I refer to the system of production and distribution.

"What voice has the worker in what is produced or not produced? The economic system is one which produces things only if there is a possibility of making profit. But by the co-opera-tive method, things can be produced that are needed. The more co-opera-tion spreads, the less will be the production of useless commodities, and the more the production of goods and services • iri accordance with our needs."