New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-21
COOPERATION IN THE NORTH or EN-
lIAKD

it prefers the voice of figures and tardy results
to the more conspicuous advertisement of words
as a medium of publicity-an enormous CO.
operative Wholesale Supply Store, furnishing
the many cooperative stores Of England and
Scotland with goods.
Since the foundation. in 1S43, of the store of
the Equitable Pioneers at ROchdale, small
city twelve miles distant from Manchester, the
system of direct dealing between producer and
consumer, without the aid of middlemen, had
increased with unparalleled success, and the
absolute necessity of this wholesale store
forced it into existence. The growing prosper
ity of the multitude of retail stores increasing
from year to year, rendered it necessary to
found great center or nucleus of supply, in
order to facilitate, cheaper, and distribute pur-
chases.
First was the ROchdae store, with its 5000
members and their families to be suppliedj then
the very large and prosperous store at Halifax,
with 1000 members that of SOwerby Bridge,
with $500; of Leeds, with 1000; the Manchester
and Stafford store, with 1000, and many others.
These stores deal for cash only, and give the
purchasing member check to the amount of
each purchase When the member has bought
goods to the amount of $780, he brings the
checks representing that amount to the store,
and is paid, in cash. a dividend, consisting OF
exactly the clear profits the store has made on
that $50 worth of goods. These profits aver
age about ten per cent. and members, indlng
this better rate of interest than can be had
by investing elsewhere, leave much OF this
money to capitalize in the store. These diyl-
dends, thus capitalized, which experience
proves to be about sixty-fve per cent.
of tho entire net profits Of the sys-
TEN in the North of England, furnish
enormous funds (which, after much pariey about
the practicablty of the cooperation of cO0pera-
tons, it was decided to invest in this whole
sale concern, in order to still advance the
members percentage. The advantages OF
great guiding center like this had long been
foreseen and advocated by tho untiring Green
wood, Edwards, Ptman, and others. Yet it
was necessity that, in August 1868, called it
into being; and in 1854 it commenced business
under the appellation of the "North of En-
"gland Cooperative Wholesale Industrial and
"Provident Society, Limited" None but Co
operative Societies holding shares and stock
in it are allowed to purchase from it, since it
has no commerce with the outside world. 1t
ness concern in the world. After passing the
ordeal of objections and resistance, such as all
innovations are sure TO encounter, it began
rapidly to enroll constituency after constituency,
until it has now not fewer than 70 co
operative stores, with their $50 branches
in different parts of England and Scot
land, that are now retailing goods
forwarded them by 10. IL is subject to their
action, and delegates from them meet regu-
larly to dictate its career, on true democratic
principles. 1t is worked from the democratic
idea of its distant neighbors. The ballot die
tates all its motions. OF course, certain mar
gins of discretionary power are accorded to its
annually elected officers. In this wholesale
scheme, as in all other corporations, the middle
men stand poor chance The giant strides
over them like Cyclops. He has but one eye,
and that looks straight ahead for supply. De-
mand takes care of itself. The store has COM
petent agents, foreign and domestic, among
whom are some of the best buyers in England.
There is one at Cork, Ireland. whose sole bust
ness is to purchase butter another in France,
who purchases beeves several in Germany and
Belgium, in search of cheese, fruits, meat, and
butter; and it is now contemplated sending a
wheat-buyer to America. These buyers deal
directly with producers themselves, ignoring all
Intermediary barter and, for the first time since
the patrarchs, are the producer and consumer
thus brought face to face without triplex
eflrontery, into amicable commerce COMPETE
tions are disalowed. Cooperation takes the ni-
tiative, and displays the motto, "A first -rate
"article for fair price, II deals in nothing bat
the very best; and, being tho embodiment of
independence, is worked with wonderful celebrity
and cheapness. Such is the confidence inspired
by this wholesale store that G5 per cent. Of all
the profits is capitalized; and, as the concern
averages 23i per cent. net profit, by reason of
direct purchase and low working expenses, the
wisdom of stockholders in the on-withdrawal
of their money is apparent. Last year, the
store had cash capital of 100000; and It's
books showed business of $17,900,000 and
net profit of 23i per cent.
This immense reciprocal cooperation of the
North of England is like the celestial system,
which revolves around a common center, that
furnishes its planets directly, and its satellites
indirectly, with the most indispensable ailments
of life; and, while it thus mechanically exerts
an extensive influence over the pecuniary ne
cessites of large class Of the most intelligent
citizens of that region, it operates also as
an extensive moral, intellcctualzing and pO-
litical influence, by causing continual fric-
ton of ideas. The aggregate number of
co0perators who receive these pecuniary and
matchmaking benefits from it has been
computed at 100000; and, as their families av-
erage three persons more, the system exerts
these influences over no fewer than 100000
forming no uncomfortable class of British pro-
ducers. Such is the exactness of its calculation
i'm outlav and retnrna tho nicpty IN which IN