CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 January 1926, Page 6

CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT.

(To the Editor). Sh The reported remarks of Messrs Belton and Dickie under the above heading in Friday’s Star appear somewhat vague to those who were not fortunate enough to have had P pleasure of hearing the original speeches Me do not suggest for a moment that either of the above-mentioned gentlemen has not made an exhaustive studv of the co-operative movement from' its origination in the mind or Robert Owen, about 1812, down to th present day, and we feel sure thattney will gladlv accept the opportunity o enlightening benighted dairymen m anv way which lies within their power Would "Mr Belton, then, be good enough to name Ins authority, w hon he refers to as a personal friend, anu. whom one must .infer is a great autttoritv on proprietary concerns when ne savs: “There was not room for botn proprietary and co-operative lnstitutic.ns.” That recognised authority on co-operation, George Jacob Holyoake, in his “History of Co-operation (page 674) says: “Co-operation may mitigate reckless competition, but does nok destroy competition itself. Competition opens, and keeps open, the pathway of progress. The alternative is monopoly, and monopoly means the opportunity of the unscrupulous and the plunder of the many.” Likewise, 'Mr Dickie’s reported statement: “In his (Mr Dickie’s) opinion, to maintain this highly desirable position co-oper-ation was essential, and he would, go so far as to say co-partnership also, for the staffs engaged should share in what benefits might be secured, etc., 1 appears to lequire a little further explanation when placed beside my above quoted authority. In his same work(page 308). G. J. Holyoake says: “Copartnery is not co-operation. A copartnery proceeds by hiring money and labour and excluding the labourer from participation in the profit made. .” It wou’d appear from this that what we understand as co-operation in Taranaki is not the genuine co-op-eration at all, hut a sort of co-part-nerv. Trusting Messrs Belton and Dickie will enlighten us further on. the subject, and thanking you in anticipation, I am, etc.,

IGNORANT DAIRY FARMER Hawera. Jan. 18.