CO-OPERATIVE STORE FOR COBDEN

Grey River Argus, 29 June 1945, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE STORE FOR COBDEN

(To the Editor.) Sir —On reading the report of the last Borough Council meeting, I noticed that a letter from the District Rehabilitation Officer was read, in which it was pointed out that it was the intention of the Rehabilitation Committee to place before the State Advances Corporation, tne necessity for building shops ip tne Holland Settlement, Cobden. The leter went on to say that business handled in the Settlement by ’'Grey and Cobden shopkeepers should be. handled by a store (or stores) in tne Settlement, for the benefit of residents, and for the benefit of returned men. Well Sir, why not a co-op-erative enterprise? This would serve to rehabilitate returned men equally aS well as the proposal suggested by the Rehabilitation Officer; and at the same' time benefit the Settlement and Cobden residents .(many of whom are ex-servicmen). A co-op-erative store on the site mentioned by the Mayor, on the corner of nail and Ward Streets, would probably be as central as on any other available section. This question' could of course be settled by discussion among those interested in the question of a co-operative enterprise. I do not propose to deal with the advantage associated with consumer-co-opera-tives. Indeed, by conversation with many Cobdenites, I feel that the advantages are realised by a number, suficient to guarantee the success of a co-operative store. What is needed. however, is some form of guidance and direction, and a public meeting similar to those -already organised on parts of the Coast by the Coop. Regional Committees would nelp. to achieve this, and I hope that the West Coast Committee will give Cobden reSidets the opportunity of acquainting themselves with the steps necessary to establish and build a co-operative undertaking. . The foregoing is a copy of a letter which I submitted to the “creymouth Star,” for inclusion in its correspondence column The “Star,” in refusing to print it contended that it was “nearer advertising than correspondence.” In other words the cooperative movement has no place in the “Star’s” conception of a New Order. lam etc., , . , “INDUSCO”