CO-OPERATON AND THE NEW ORDER

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1941, Page 7

CO-OPERATON AND THE NEW ORDER

■ By Co-op.

PART IV. The Possibilities: We read of the ramifications of joint Stock Companies, bat it is usually conceded that in the dim' past the capital for these vast enterprises was orginally subscribed by many small shareholders from their savings. What happened in the later life of these companies is voluminously chronicled by numerous writers. However, we can take our lesson from the knowledge of these facts, and turn to our advantage a vision of the benefits accruing from a parallel organisation, but based on co-opera-tive ownership. Supposing over a period, and it need not be long, that our 200,000 members find they have invested in co-operation £lO each, derived from direct contribution of capital and reinvestment of dividends, the total capital available is then the average purchases are only 30s per week per member that is £7B per annum and dividend is 2s in the £, then the percentage earned by the original investment of £6, i.e.. £1 wholesale and £5 retail sections, is not 10 per cent., but £7B-6 x 10-1 per cent., which gives a return of 13 per cent, per annum. Even the best joint ■Stock Companies rarely earn this. Now apart from the more material benefits accruing direct to individual shareholders, the possibilities of such a planned co-op. are immense. What are they ? (1) Establishment of co-op. factories to produce goods of trade; (2) Co-op. farms of various types to produce primary products; (3) Membership of co-op. dairy and cheese factories; (4) Co-op. sea transport by having our own steamers; (5) Co-op. radio station; (6) Co-op. daily newspapers —why now the “Argus” for one. These are some of the material benefits arising from our small beginnings. Hand-in-hand with our trading activities we’ll go; (1) Workers’ clubs and facilities for recreation; (2) Co-op. colleges from which will come our future organisers and co-op. We shall ensure they have the right ideas about affairs as they interest us; (3) Cultural and educational facilities for all our members. All these are within our grasp ! What did we start from ? 200,000 workers who believed in themselves, lent themselves £1 each, and in New Zealand built their own Co-op. It has brought security and benefits unthought of and more—it has brought 200,000 members, their wives and families into brotherly and sisterly relationship—all working towards a great ideal —an ideal they know they can attain. The impetus of such a movement will draw, with its dynamic power for good, many others not in the first 200,000. There will be difficulties, coersion, threats, sabotage, “red herrings”— all these—but the workers will get from the new order only what they demand and work for. They will get little of anything, without a United Front in Co-qperation 1 Take heed! (Conclusion)