RUNANGA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1944, Page 6

RUNANGA NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.! The Runanga Co-operative Women’s Guild held their study circle evening on Friday in the Druids’ Hall Mrs. Oakley presiding over a good aftendance. A visitor from Christchurch was welcomed. Very interesting talks were given by Mr. Oakley (President of the Co-operative Society). Mr. Bowes (Manager and Secretary of the Society) and Messrs R. McTaggart. Junr., R. Morris and R. Bowman (Committeemen). Mrr Oakley spoke on the “Co-operative System and What it Means,” in which he po nted out that in due course, the co-operative system will operate all over New Zealand. Several new societies were now being formed, which went to show that the people of this country were getting cooperative minded. He said he would like to see one in every town, and there was no reason why there should not be. Everything sold over the counter was a first grade article, and even if it cost a copper or two more than at the private trader, the profits in all cases went back to the customer. Mr. McTaggart spoke on “Closer Collaboration Between the Women’s Guild and the Co-operative Committee.” He said the Women’s Guild was a wonderful band of women, and said that no Co-operative Society was complete without its Women’s Guild, which played a big part in co-operation, bringing membefs together and being helpful in every wav. He could not see why the local Society could not deal in more commodit'es than it already did, but when it set its new build’ns it was to be hoped that everything was embraced, so that members did not need to go elsewhere for any article whatever. Mr. Ron Morris took as his subject “The Practical and Theoretical Side of Cooperation.” He said he had had experience of both private and co-op-erative work and found that co-opera-tion was by far the best. He gave some very interesting incidents from his career. “What is Co-operation, and How Does it Start?” was the subject taken by Mr. Bowman. Co-op-eration started like everything else, he said, in a small wav. Once a cooperator, always a co-operator, it >ets into your blood, and anybody going to a strange town, where there was no co-operative store, would hardly know where to spend his money. That was how the Co-opera-tive Societies started. A few. people got together, put 'money into it, getti ing as many members to take shares as possible, gnd from the little concern grew the bigger one, each year growing, until it was found that the co-operative store could not be done without. Finally, Mr. Bowes spoke on the "Real Principle of Co-opera-tion.” He also read an article written by himself on Co-operation and spoke interestingly on the Rochdale system, which started a century ago. A Rochdale Celebration, which willconsist of a social, dancing and speeches, is to be held in July, in the Miners’ Hall. The Women’s Guild will co-operate with the committee. A discussion followed the addresses and questions being asked by several members. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, on the motion of Mrs. Robertson, seconded by Mrs. Wright. A dainty supper, during which Mrs. Gibb entertained with two recitations, was served by the hostesses.

Thanks to the general public of R-unanga for their generous, support of the combined State and Convent School children in their special effort collecting funds bv the coupon system is expressed bv the Runanga Patriotic Society, which acknowledges the following donations: Parcel Fund: Anonymous £l, S. Finch 6s, Anonymous ss, F. Oakley ss, Anonymous ss, J. Wafer 2s. 6d. General Fund: State and Convent School, coupon system £9 3s 6d. State School collections (9 weeks') £4 13s. The Ladies’ Committee has parcelled and nacked 120 unaddressed parcels this vear, and is expecting to dispatch another consignment next month.