Household Daily Supply Co.

NZ Truth, Issue 444, 20 December 1913, Page 4

Household Daily Supply Co.

The Germ of an Idea Worth Considering.

Notion from Auckland Trades Hall.

M. Clyde has sent \is from the Auckland Trades Hall the prospectus of a coinpady which is intended to be of service ■ to the great body of wage earners m that town. Space will not permit up to do more than ffivo the briefest notice of *he document at hand, und for- the same reason wo can only at thJs writing state m . the shortest manner some words of approval, also some ■wellneeded warnings which the prospectus has made necessary. In .toe first place th is " scheme is not based on sound co-operative principles, though the promoters make a claim to that effect. The underlying motive for the venture seems to be baaed upon a very self-evident defect m the methods of distribution of domestic comestibles, viz., the wasteful expense involved by employing so many persons m the delivery of the many foods required m the average household. Of course this has been a heavy burden at all times, and it would be the means of considerable saving m the cost of delivery if it were eliminated as far as possible from the present system; but this would not beneiH the worker to any great extent The wasteful system would still remain, and bo a charge against the consumer. There is only one way to remedy this trading evil land that is to bring the purchaser to the goods store, leaving the delivery question to bo solved by the buyer. The i solution would be effected m the simplest ; manner by carrying home tho articles purchased. There is I FAR TOO MUCH SNOBBERY [about the average person m this D6^ minion, and we are sorry to say the worker is just as bad m that respect. All parties are ashamed co be seen with a parcel In tuelr hands. They crave to have the smallest article delivered at the home, and the cost for such false pride has of course to be paid for. Therefore, let it be cut out of any consideration of a scheme for bet* terms the means of supplying the workers with the household necessaries. In this scheme, Tho Household Daily Supply Co. proposes to canvass for orders from families, for meat, bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, fish and dairy produce, and deliver all orders |In one oporation. We fancy that this is not feasible. There Is surely some regulation m the dairying laws which would bar the carting of milk alongside of articles which would badly taint such food. Then there is the desire to see fruit and vegetables before purchiujlnj? aueh ;oods. W« take it that these simple objections arc fatal to the initial proposals m the prospectus. The method of business this com- ! pany sets out In tho prospectus Is just as vicious aa anything else m the present system. The proposal Is mndo that -wages and commission will bo paid the men employed aa salesmen and delivery men. This shows thai the promoters have not fully informed themselves how expensive a matter wages plus commission arc. "PROFITS, after providing for initial loan and extension of business, nro to bY divided among the fltaflf, each member thus being a partner, which is true cooperation." On such lines It appears to "Cambist" that tho "staff"' would havo the fat end of tho business. Surely this was never Intended, but the impression cannot bo avoided, "We claim to bo nblo to servo you at | 25 per cent, below retail prices, and j every extension of business. Hill mean v further drop." Here la a statement j which is altogether too loose 1 to be let pass without nottce. It may be classed as a dream based upon a LACK OK, COMMERCIAL. EXPERIENCE. No such thing can ba accomplished under tho present commercial eyaiem. Many lines of goods are sold nt prices fixed by the Merchants' Association, and the various Trusts. This makes tt Impossible to fcfftct tho largo savings so widely offered In the prospectus. It Is well that this should btj made known at the outset. Indued, it It a pity aucn lino* have appeared. Candidly, vt6 do not connliur that the prospectuM wnt us fully mcota tho clulm which a properly-conceived cooperative society should act forth. Hut we are glad to boo that th© subject Is being mooted amongst the workers. A properly- drafted co-operative society would be successful If workers COUld '*)& brought to c.w-onemte. The spirit of co-operation l« absolutely necessary for success. It }» uw>le*a to fores ihc Idea upon people who have not the desire to co-operate. The prone nt Htriku disclose* a vast amount of opposition to micli »n idea. But, never-tn'-loKH, there appear** from indications alluUctl to, Umt a )arg« uectlon of tho uouulailan l» ready to welcome a moNcniont which would relieve tho coot of living. For those reasons "Cumbuu" } counsels the workers of Auckland and joihcr i»tuce« to carefully *?«» jmo the ! question of co-op«nUvs wrv!«t<». Flm will com« tho llndtntt of ft eonaldemblo capital with which to *ni«T Into bu»ltw&e Thia e»uld b« doubiltmaly found by iMulntf mmw* with ca*y ifrmn for payment of c*»»'*^ H wouM !>»• footltth to attempt btwiness without tfuuielt'nt cash In hand. Th«r«i m 'iftvn dunl the catm of tho bis <a-oi*-r&uv<« Stella* at Home which *t*ru?d wish only a. r«w pounds «wh» Condition* In ihl» country maJw H impoftnlblo to nucceed r-n ttimlUir line* b*rc. \V« «ro tttad to ueo the pro«p*etu* *yen Ihojgh we cannot »*k our friend* nj»ntt K the worker* to »üb»crio« to the £1000 fund m*m»on«'<l »» that document. Th* b«*t advice we can offer t«» the pr«moi*yrn AntJ athor* Intwrttflicd J«*. itluJy tho muttrj- more before trains further. Don't n»k fur ca#h unlit tho tfchwne it, made practicable