New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-02
CO.opFPdTJON IN BELGIUM

CO-OpER11JUh Nv DELuiVH'
In Belgium the Cooperative movements have
sprung, like those in many parts OF England,
from the follies of labor organizations. The
working people are making moral capital out
of their own failures in strikes and arbitrary
measures, which they now seek to improve by
cooperation. A Mr.. Lchrens, residing IN Brus-
sels seeing the need of a reform movement
began the establishment of Cooperative Socic-
ties there i'm the form of banks OF credit ana
of stores OF the latter, there is one called
"La Ruche,n or the Bee Hire, which bids fair
to become q popular specimen OF cooperation,
possessing, as it does, all the characteristics
such as schools, lecture and readng-r00ms,
&c.-so common to genuine Cooperative So
cetes in England 1t has an excellent Board
of Management and a rapidly enlarging bust
ness. AT the time this stOre-which is one OF
the Oldest specimens of Belgian cooperation
was founded it was argued that the price OIL
provisions could not be materially reduced,
Belgium being noted for its extremely cheap
living. But the store soon discovered that 1t
could save from II to % per cent on articles
which were sold ut half the prices current III
France. If provisions are low III Belgium, the
price of labor is proportiOnally low, and the
relative difference is nothing at all. The store
buys up beeves and hogs, and often Kills ana
prepares them. Wheat, fruits, and potatoes
are bought in at the lowest wholesale figure,
and the ASSOCIATION sometimes makes clear
profit of % per cent for its members. a familJ
owning shares can buy for IS cents what would
cost dollar elsewhere, and the economy u
properly considered equivalent to correspond
A. ,f, 1
used with more stress by co0perators in Bel
GUM than in any other part of Europe, prop
ably because of the hopeless poverty oil the
wage scale.
At Liege there il another interesting cooper
alive store, which furnishes provisions to about
300 families, or 1900 persons; and ut Vervlcrs
the mechanics have boldly struck out upon
cooperative plan of their own. The selt-hel'-
ing system in Belgium seems to depend TOT us
success more upon the vigOr with which Its
honest details are pushed than upon any 'ar-
tirular methods adopted. The working classes
are so depressed that they greedily cOnide in,
and attach themselves to, almost any schc re
which PROMISES aid and it would not be JUr-
prisng if this busy and popuOus country were
to become n great thcater of cooperation.
There is no other place of equal size where the
real elements of this movement are 50 proniiS-
ing. and the extreme favor with which England
her near neighbor-uphOlds cooperation, IS
lust now cxerting powerful influence III pinn-
ing and shaping the laws of Belgium for
the announcement OF this much needed
reform. The Belgian mechanics. too, are
determined to become their own bank
ers. Already there are three cooperative
banks in Brusscs-onc ut Antwerp and one or
two ut Incorporating somewhat upon the
principle of those in Germany. These take the
place OF ordinary savings banks, and loan
money in small sums to members to start them
in business. Being the property of member
ship in common, they, of course, seek to
pay as large percentage as possible
TO depositors who do not wish to borrow.
The working people of Belgium partake moro
largely of the English character than their
neghbors of Germany and France, as their
methods of mutual assistance show. Their CO.
operation is based strictly upon pecunary gam,
but they are, like the English, quite ready to
accept any side issues the system may present.
The consequence is, that mental instruction to
PRODUCERS is rapidly becoming subject of deep
consideration, and a glance at their condition
is sufficient to convince an observer that CO.
operation has q great field there, both pecu-
narily and intellectually. Mr.. Lehrens is con-
sccrating all his time, fortune, and energy in
developing these important matters. A rough
estimate has recently fixed the total amount of
cooperative business in Belgium during the
last year at Sl2,OOO.OOO, of which the banks
operated Sl1,0OOg00, the cooperative stores
40, opa A Al. ;,J, ,;,l nj
nerships about $4,000 or 100000 In several of
tho latter the dividends amounted to about 10
per cent. The progress of Belgian cooperation
is steady, and is guided by too much wisdom
to allow of premature action.