CO-OPERATIVE STORES.

Evening Star, Issue 6480, 22 December 1883, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE STORES.

TO TEE EDITOB. Sib,—l have to thank you for the insertion in your issue of last night of my letter on the above subject. I would not so soon again trespass on your space but for a correction which I beg you will kindly make, especially as it is rather an important one. In offering to supply needful information to bona fidt inquirers I stated that notes of inquiry, if addressed " Co-operative Stores— Immediate," should bo replied to by me. You have printed it "Corporation Stores." General letters of approval from all disposed to help forward, of which I trust a very large number will be received, will be treated as entirely confidential, and opened only by a committee whose names and position will be a guarantee of honorable dealing, and whose duty it will then be to call a meeting. —I am, etc., A Large Consumer. Dunedin, December 22. TO THE KDITOB. . Sib.—Being away from home, hence my delay in writing. I am glad that someone has taken my subject up re a co-operative bakery. I hope some friend of the working men will call a meeting and take stepa to initiate the same. I am certain that it would bo a grand success; I and two friends would take fifty 20a shares.— I am, etc, A Sufferer. Dunedin, December 20 TO TH« IDITOB. Sib,—l agree with " A Largo Consumer." It is no doubt high time that the working-classes ■of this City took up the question of co-operation, for there is no subject that affects their welfare more than this. It places within the reach of all the advantages of becoming their own suppliers of tho genuine article, with a share in the profits, which in a successful society means at least 10 per cent, Further, there is no interest in buying inferior articles to sell them at a high prica ; no temptation to adulterate or give short weight; for what would be taken by these means would go back to the consumers in the shape of bonuses. That they are successful no one I think doubts; for the numbers now trading and their successf ul_ operations, extending over forty years, shows this. Take one, for example— The Lancashire society started with twentyeight members subscribing 20s each, In their twenty-third year they had 6,246 members, with a capital of L 99.989, doing a bubinetm of 1/249,122, and returning a profit to its members of L 31.931. That is satisfactory, I think. But why this nonsense of "supplying information in confidence ?' I can Bee no good to be got by that. The most straightforward and businesslike way would be to call a meeting at some one of the small halls, which would coat 10s; cost of advertising meeting, say 20s. This would be subscribed at the first mooting. Again, why should not tho man with one share have the same right to vote, etc, as the one with 100?I am, etc., S. Baxeeb, Dunedin, Deoembor 21/