New-York tribune., 1872-06-04
COOPERATION IN ENGLAND.


LIAR FORMS OF CONTAMINATION THE
ARMY AND NAVY SOCIETY ORIGINATED
THE EXTENSIVE PLAN UPON WHICH 1T Is
CONDUCTED.
IFROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNhI
LONDON, May Incorporation is taxing
form in England which, though not very much llus1"
tive Of the cooperative principle is sufficiently so 10
command now the attention Of military men, genuine
co6perative store does not uderse the shopkeeper-
it enters into no huckstertng competition Win hIh-O
places its savings made by economy ana coneerU 10 inc
credit OF It's members and takes preeauu0n against INC
objects Of society being perverted by the ascehueno
Of capital There are none Of the new cooperative
stores as they are called formed OF late years IN London
based on these principles. The "Ciyil service
Coiperative stores' and Civil service Cooperative
supply Association" and many other forms OF repueu
cooperative societies popular in London are so many III
stances Of what might be called club cooperation Ihey
are simply Joint stock concerns, with view 10 ecohoy
in purchasing. However, this modified form OF CO.
operaton-this very partial application Of the principle
mas already been attended with such advantageous re-
suits TO the naval and military services as to be deed-
edly worth reporting.
In Victoria R0ad-the great road ieadng from the far
lament Houses 10 Victoria Station-stand some Vast
we-but houses intended for business Offices NO. III
of these buildings standing about midway in Victoria
street is in the occupation Of the Army
and Navy Cooperative Society" 1t appears to have
occurred not long to two enterprsng and reflect
i've officers Major Bradford McCrea, late OF q" The
Kings" Regiment, and Capt Ernest Lewis late OF lhe
2ls ROYAL North British Fusieers, that the members OF
the Army and Navy services might secure for them
selves some of those great advantages Of cooperative
zpplv which members OF Her Majestys Civil Service
had il was well known, secured for themselves. Per-
hans the military and naval services OF America are
more fortunate than those OF England Here II mas long
been understood that class OF persons are charged
such exorbant prices for the articles they require 70
buy as military Army and NAVY CONTRACTORS
q. Army Tailors," and Army Outhtters," are
observed to amass fortune IN te"
wears If an officer changed his place of dealing
and tried another house. he found that the charges
were about the same go where he would and the goods
in some cases worse II officer reflected upon IL ne
probabv came 70 the conclusion that these contractors
taors and outtters were all confederated together 10
keep up prices and that there no escape from the
and no choice but TO deal with them II an officer N
barracks in any country sent out servant TO buy
an article for him the price greatly increased when
il was known that the article for an officer Nhen
coperation had taught the Civil Service the advantages
Of combined supply ii became obvious that the mlIy
and naval services might profit in much
greater degree by forming a similar society
and Major McCrea and Capt Lewis appear to
have resolved 10 try the experiment. They
soon obtained the approval Of Field Marshal Sir william
MAYNARD Commander Of the COdsream Guards, and sir
George Pollock Constable Of the Tower Of Gen. Sir Pat
rick Grant COMMANDMENTS Chief at Malta Of LieutGen
Sir Charles Van straubenzee Of Admiral Lord Clarence
Paget: Of RearA dmira Ashley Cooper Key, second in
command OF the Mediterranean feet; OF Captain His
Serene III gness the Prince Of Leinngen; Of MaiorGen
Sir Frederick Chapman InspectorGeneral Of Forthea-
TONS and other eminent chiefs OF the Army and Navy
services With approval distinguished and influential
as this there could be doubt OF the popularity OF the
Army and Navy Cooperative Society. The next thing
was to form Committee of Direction, and among these
VI. A4wrFwu wu0 fHeI1fr nHfffff uTNr
Nonoth R. n. and Of the two officers Major Me
Crea and Capt. Lewis, who may be regarded as the
founders OF the Society; Major McCrea being Managing
Director and Capt Lewis Assistant Managing Director
and Treasurer Mr.. W. H. Smith. NJ p, the Conservative
Member for Westminster is regarded as sort or Parma
entry representative Of the contractors and general
sbopkeepers and allows t be believed that he is 70
put down the cooperative stores but strange 70 say one
of the Managing Directors" Of this and important
society is Nj Smiths colleague in the representation OF
Westminster Capt. the Hon. Wellesley Grosvenor NJ r.
The capta OF this Army and Navy Cooperative Society
s s75OO in S. shares AS military men are distinguished
for capacity organization this store has great advan
ages in the efficiency Of its gements. The mana
gers have divided the store into the following five great
departments FIRST grocery, provisions spirits
tobacco brushes, mats, and turnery second stationery
drugs, and perfumery third, fancy goods. electro
plate jewelry, clocks, watches, and bronzes fourth
hosiery and drapery fifth, military and naval accOuter
The building occupied IN NlctOIla-sU IL al
pirany adapted for the purposes Of this society 1t af
fords large lofty chambers for the display OF goods
in each Of these departments. and it is possible
for the directors to take the adjoining buildings,
which, as the grows, they will require to do;
Then il will become Of the best and most imposing
OF al the great in the metropolis. Every depart
ment of this store abundantly and richly furnished
The whole Of the capital very soon subscribed and
there IL an air Of opuence about the store very pleasant
70 see Packers are busy at work filing hampers and
cases FOR local delivery and for expectation. Men run
against you at every doorway bearing great bales upon
their shoulders dainty articles Of sale lie everywhere
about las easy Of access as at FOrtnum MasOn's),
and ladies enjoy the luxury Of selecting the goods
they admire. The fancy goods, the clock watch, and
ewelry room is upstairs; and very pleasant cham
ber it Is TO walk through. The military and naval
aecouterments room already affords great variety Of
choice The store opened till the 18th Of Feb
ruary last and its business already amounts TO $500
per day There is doubt 1t will be 5000 day in
twevemonth or less time. The military customers to
the store are very much surprised already at the cheap
ness with which they able 20 procure articles An
outfit which has cost young officer $780, can be obtained
here in some cases for $3.50 or $500.
II is well understood that soldiers a rule, are not
rich and that many fathers and mothers in the middle
classes and among the old territorial families Of limited
income are put TO great Inconvenience TO ut out son
for the army OF navy. 1t is really an act of pub
lie duty 10 tighten these patriotic costs; on the
contractor and Outter system these costs fully
oneha more than they need be- In the accOuterments
room Of this Cooperative Society handsome sword may
be bought for S12 for which contractor outntter
would charge Sl7 90. On many articles not very
pensve as much go added 20 the cost by the
binary military tradesmen. Fifty-twO dollars or more
ould be charged for dress oyezcOat IL is not
possible 10 put 50 much money into It's preparation In the
articles Of guns as well swords every officer knows be
B often called upon pay enormous price for an ari
Gle which does not prove 20 be Of remarkable excellence
after all 1t may may not prove 70 be good-there is
nothing certain except that the price will be good.