CO-OP. SOCIETIES

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 7

CO-OP. SOCIETIES

WEST COAST CONFERENCE

Opening To-day

The first conference of the West Coast Consumers’ Co-operative Societies opens at Greymouth to-day, and will be continued to-morrow. Mr J. H. Churton, recently appointed Organiser of the New Zealand Federation of Co-operatives, will be in attendance. After the conference, Mr Churton- will visit all of the West Coast co-operatives, and will also pay visits to the Millerton, Blackball, and Roa districts, where he will meet local residents 1 interested in the formation of co-operative societies. Referring to the growth of the cooperative movement in New Zealand, Mr Churton said that in the Manawatu district there were at present 13 co-operative societies in operation. In Palmerston North, the societies conducted butchery and grocery stores, and a modern bakery with an output of 7000 loaves a week.

Commenting on the consequences of Hon. C. F. Skinner’s announcement that co-operatives were to have precedence in the new State housing area in the Hutt Valley, ?f?r Churton stated that the true position had never been publicised. The co-op. movement had been attacked by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Retailers’ Federation, and some metropolitan papers. The Retailers’ Federation had said that the co-operatives had been forced to run to the Government for protection, while the Associated Chambers of Commerce had levelled an attack on the point that injustice was being done by not allowing private enterprise to enjoy the so-called privileges of the co-operatives. Mr Churton stated that the position was that an ordinary private business was liable for taxation on all trading profits, whereas tfte law stated that cooperatives did not make profits, all surpluses being declared overcharges, which reverted to the members in proportion to their purchases. The Government could not be made to accept the attitude of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which was that co-o-peratives should be taxed on full surpluses. Referring to the formation of tne co-operative system in the Hutt Valley, Mr Churton said that a house-to-house canvass brought a 91 per cent, majority in favour of its establishment, after which it negotiated with the Government for exclusive trading rights in the area. The system now included grocery and butchery shops, and a bread delivery. It is hoped later to establish restaurants, hostels, and hotels on the co-operative principle. Had full trading rights not been granted to the co-operatives, big combines would have made efforts to smash the comparatively weak individual co-ops. The Hutt Valley Co-operative Society has agreed to allocate one-third of its total surpluses from its proposed restaurants, hotels, etc., to the maintenance of cultural facilities m the Hutt Valley. Mr Churton will remain on the West Coast for about 16 days.