CO-OPERATIVE TRADING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 24 January 1927, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE TRADING.

BRITAIN AND NEW ZEALAND. ENGLISH BUSINESSMEN’S VISIT. ‘•The possibilities are great lor the truly co-operative companies in New Zealand,” said. Mr T. A. Winks upon Ins return to Mawora on Saturday. Air n inks, who is one ot the directors of the Aew Zeaiand Marketing Association, was asked uy a Star reporter for an "expression ol" opinion concerning tne activities of the. delegation from cue British Co-operative Wnolesale Society winch arrived in New Zeaiand on ALOiiday last seeking to place trade reiationisnps between New Zealand producers and British consumers on the best possible basis by the elimination, as - far as possible, of the various interests which stand between them. “The delegation,” continued Mr Winks, “consists of Sir Thomas Alien, who is chairman of the Co-operative Wholesale Society Finance Committee, Mr J. English, one of the produce committee, and IYIr W. T. Charter, who is one of the principals of the meat department recently set up by the society. At Wellington on Tuesday the directors of the Marketing Association met the delegates from the C.W.S. (which is the partner company established in the United Kingdom) for the purpose of seeing what could -be done in regard to reciprocal trade between the two organisations.

“NO TRUSTS NEED APPLY.” “One of the slogans of the C.W.S. is ‘No Trusts Need Apply.’ The society evidently wishes to grt as near to the , producers a$ possible, and, considering ( it has a membership of approximately " two and a half million heads of families, representing ten to twelve million souls, you can well imagine what it would mean to this country if direct connections were established. The society operates its own factories, which manufacture almost the whole of the necessities of life, including dotting, boots, glassware, china ware, sweets, preserves, tobacco, and grows its own tea, coffee, etc., which it wishes to market in the Dominion, if -satisfactory arrangements can- be made. Such, ! believe, will eventually be arrived at. “Sir Thomas Allen not only takes his .share of the management of that enormous company’s ramifications, bub he aso‘ finds time to assist in civic administrative affairs in the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Economic Committee set up in London in 1922, and was a member of the Imperial Committee which presented a report last year dealing with the marketing and pieparing of foodstuffs produced in the overseas parts of the Empire. All three members of the delegation are very able men, equipped with an intimate knowledge of their respective branches of business. Wliejn discussing co-operation they are most convincing with their facts. ‘ .

“They intend spending a month in the Dominion, and one of the business channels they are particu’arly interested in is the meat industry. They are at present making inspection of meat works in the Hawke’s Bay district, and expect to be in Taranaki towards the end of the month.

HAWER A ADDRESS MOOTED. “In a. private conversation with Sir Thomas. I asked him 1 if he would be prepared to give an address in Hawera dealing with the investigations he was concerned with while a member of the important committees referred to. He said he would be delighted to do so if - it was desired locally. He is a very able speaker with a "thorough grasp of the manv arotVms confronting Great Britain at the present time, and I believe we would lie afforded an intellee-*| trial treat if a meeting could be ar-Vf ranged. He was an active member of of the Board of Trade during the war, for which service he was knighted, and has an intimate knowledge of the coalmining trouble. You can realise what it woMd mean to have a. gentleman with these qualifications addressing us in Hawera. “I intend to push the matter further.’’ said Mr Winks in conclusion, “and if sufficient interest is taken in the suggestion, a meeting can be arranged for about the 31st of this month.”