THE CO-OPERATIVE CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1343, 25 August 1877, Page 10

THE CO-OPERATIVE CONGRESS.

The Co operative Congress has just closed its sittings in Leicester, where it has been debating, paper-reading, and doing all else in relation to co-operation done by similar assemblies for whatever cause or principle they may represent. To us it seems that these annual gatherings are admirable things. In social economy, as in science, there is much yet to be discovered. A false political economy has occupied the public mind from the commencement of our industrial era ; which in its application to life has given the marvellous wealth of the country too exclusively to a limited section of the community. New lights are now breaking in, and new thought amongst the working people is driving out old assumptions. New methods of business are beginning to -supersede the old bad methods, and altogether our working population is becoming liberated from the old economic superstitions. This calls for special action on their part, particularly on the part of the cooperators. As yet they have not deve- j loped their thought to its full extent — their theories want expanding, as prac- f tical progress suggests the need for such a proceeding ; and to do this well, it is necessary that the men in such a movement should meet together, that they may discuss and compare what they are saying and doing in their various localities on the important system they are, in so many localities, seeking to reduce to practice. This Co-operative Congress which met in the hall of the Museum, Leicester, was, we should say, for num--bers and for thoughtful debating power, the best yet held. The Hon. Auberon Herbert occupied the chair on the first day, and delivered the opening address. It was very earnest and very eloquent, and referred to nearly every portion of the co-operative work now going on. The retail stores established all over the country have put together a joint capital with, which they purchase in the best wholesale markets and in the largest quantities all things needed for sale in their local establishments. This business has boen going on since 1864, and during that time has increased from its moderate beginning to an annual trade of three millions sterling. It has built and leased large warehouses, and established agencies in several foreigu countries, that nobody might stand between them and the producer. That the centre has done ita business so far well, needs no proof beyond its yreat and most astonishing success.

Thero was during the sitting a very animated discussion on what is called bonus to labour — though we think the words not very appropriate. In the two works established by the co-operative wholesale centre — one for the manufacture of soap and one for the production of boots and 3hoos — the managers simply pay those who work for them the ordinary wages paid in the open market. Now the cooperative idea originated in tha desire to give the worker an interest beyond mere wages in his work. And hence those who believe in the co-operative principle as carrying in it a promise of benefit to the worker insist that a share of the profit made by the joint action of labour and capital should be given to the worker. The debate on this question vras warm and vigorous, sometime verging slightly on what might be regarded as personal, but on the whole was excellent in spirit, and at the end the friends of the worker as a sharer in profits carried the day by a most decided majority, not more than half-a-dozen voting against the motion. We regard this as a most important decision, and if carried out by the wholesale co-oporative warehouses cannot fail to lead to most important results.— London Industrial Review.