CO-OPERATIVE HOMES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11050, 31 August 1896, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE HOMES.

TO THE EDITJOB. Sir, —“Impecunious” wishes for something practical as regards co-operative housekeeping. It seems to me that it should be done with as little change in the ordinary mode of life as possible, but that there should be great difference of motive, the object of each being to give rather than to get. There must be a clear idea as to whether this experiment be on a commercial or an altruistic basis. In my opinion there is but little chance of success except on this latter method. Obviously there must be ways and means, nor should the experiment he to save the casters of our competitive life. Competition seems so skilful in producing wreckage, that there is always more than benevolence can cope with. So although the idea of a bargain should be absent from a successful experiment, yet it must be founded on sound financial principle. I believe the method of government should he by trust' and motive, rather than by espionage and law. My own observation and experience have shown me that trust succeeds and that espionage fails. I have tested the former many times, and as often seen the latter tried by others. “ Practical ” in his letter favours the idea of separate houses with cooperative kitchens, drawing-rooms, laundries, &c., and on the face of it this seems the best way, hut the experiment must he an expensive one, and a very able manager would be required. If it should succeed it would probably considerably lessen the domestic anxiety, and every experiment to do this should be welcomed. My idea is a series of modified boarding-houses, for which the existing buildings should as far as possible he utilised. The style of living should be more economical than the present, yet richer in beauty and in social life. The idea is to have many federated homes—town houses, suburban, seaside and country residences. Should persons desire a change it would simply be a matter of arrangement, so that each resident would have the several homes at his disposal. One of the difficulties would he sleeping accommodation. But just as on board a ship or at a picnic, one naturally puts up with simple arrangements, so it would be with such an experiment. Doubtless, during the summer, tents and whares would be used to some extent, and as winter approached buildings of a more permanent character would be established. With respect to the various duties, committees would bo organised, but the work of each person would be, of course, enormously lessened by co-operative action. I often picture to myself—if by some new X rays all the kitchens in the thousands of cottages of tho city could be at once shown to us—the worried housewives at their little saucepans. with one eye on the cooking and the other on their babies. If wo could get such a picture and contrast such unsocial makeshifts with the social palaces that would be possible under a better method, I really fancy that the common-sense of mankind would produce tho change in a very short space of time. For really the change is a very simple one, only it must be made on a considerable scale in order that a public opinion may, as one of your correspondents puts it, “ prevent the triumph” of the cantankerous. For myself,

Ido hope that something will be done, for no matter how beautiful a borne one may be ] i vi!' • hi. the anxiety of its control takes much from the joy of life.—l am, Ac. A. W. BICKERTON.