English Co-operators and the New Zealand Meat Trade. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 17

English Co-operators and the New Zealand Meat Trade. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, — In your issue of Saturday, the 13th inst., appeared a letter, signed " Clinton," containing suggestions aa to the disposal of the surplus of our meat by bringing it, by- some means or other, within the reach of those large cintres of co-operative consumers in*the north of England chiefly known as the manufacturing districts, and of which Manchester may justly be called the very heart and head. The writer is — with the very best intentions, no doubt — much too sanguine and optimistical as to the result on the lines suggested : evidently through a misconception of the constitution and working of those societies. Hia flgims I do not iuteud to analyse or criticise. They are good enough for my purpose, especially as I know that the number of these sock-ties is very large, their wealth, their stability, their management unexcelled by any private establishments, whilst they embrace a constituency of more 'than one-fouith of the wholo population of Great Britain. But/your correspondent's letter is misleading. He states th&t Manchester, with wholesale branches in Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle, and London, with their 10,000 retail stores scattered throughout England and Scotland, could consume so and so, and evidently thinks th&t we have but to. ship to Manchester direot instead of to London, get hold of the Manchester society, and the thing is done. Nothing can be more illusory. As a matter of fact, every town and village co-operative society in England, Scotland, and Wales is a distinct and independent corporation, with its own local directorates, who .are very conservative and tentative of their own management and control, and Manchester has no more influence over them than Popotunoa has ovec Ruapehu. In the larger towns » society often has accommodation stores in the suburbs for the convenience of members. These are subject to their parent society, but po others. I speak this with emphasis and without fear x>t contradiction. I have when in England had I much to do with these societies. I have been a member and assisted at the foundation of several. lam acquainted with their working and management from the beginning of them in Rochdale. I was there only two years ago, spent six months among3t them, and such as they were in the beginning they are now, and will ba— that is, unaffili&ted with e»ch other, free from control, and each local body as free to purchase what they have a mind to, and to get it where they can, as much to their advantage as possible. So much for the Manchester Co-operative Society and its branches.. Now, however, when Macchester is directly accessible by tea, it would ba a moat desirable object to establish an outlet for our produce there. The best way, or how it can best be done, is the question. „, -, It is a matter to which I hive given much thought, and 1 feel certain that steadier and more -remunerative prices could be obtained in the north than in London, and if established under judicious lines would be free from thosa " rings," " corners," " bears," and other iniquitous factions which devour the profits of the shipper. Still there are great difficulties to contend with. London is the wool market oE the world. It would not do to ship wool to Manchester ; and I have great doubts as to gr»in, but 'meat o£ all kinds, butter and cheese, rabbits (canned or frozen), poultry, and such like would find a far better market than London. - In consideration of your space I have gone, perhaps, too far at present. If your correspondent "Clinton" lives there I am at no great distance, and should be most happy to discuss the matter with him orally or privatelj by letter, and all the experience and knowlecfef

I pose'ess regarding the constitution arid woiking of co-operative societies in England I would gladly impart to him, and might also suggest some practicable scheme of ontlefc for oar commodities should he be pleased to communicate with me. With this view I enclose my card, thanking you, Bit. — I am, fee., July 19. Anslo-Saxon. „