New-York tribune., 1872-02-12
COOPERATION IN ENGLANn


LONDON, Jan. 13-Not far from the Iondo,
Haymarket Theater, tine side OF the street q,
somewhat attractive looking store OF considerable o..
and preension 10 STYLE displaying the Royal arm.
the entrance mot, by-the-way, unusual thing v,,s
London shop-keepcrs. but here OF right entitled ,oe
honor). and bearing. az far as outside appearance co
a strong family resemblance 10 the store OF the v,
well-tO1o grocer. Nothing about this shop oys-h.s
affords the slightest clue TO the Of such desirs
looking property. but on very small and neatly An
graved brass plate Of the doors the word.
Civil Service Cooperative Society" This Is the pt,ns
pal provision store belonging 70 association o, s
temen from every branch Of the British Civil serys
home colonial, and foreigD-ncludiDg among ia mem
bers Peers, Menbcrs OF Parliament, Bshops Jude..
Colonial Governors, Foreign COnsuls, and other hin
Government officials and has threatened In the e.t.
sveness OF it's evcryda transactions Of buying and ell
ing most seriously affect the interests Of the prn
cipa retail tradesmen the great West End Of LONDON
About half dozen years ago there was great oue,
among the subordinate officials OF the various LOnd
Government departments against the low rates Of saar
they received, and few gentlemen connected with hs
London General Post-Ofce met together, to consss,
whether 1t would not be possible to devise mears
by which the poorer class OF Government clerks could
obtain articles OF everyday consumption at consider
able reduction in price from that charged by the retain
shop-keeper Resolutions adopted calling TIA
London civil servants generally 10 come forward AID
in bringing about association, based upon the prn
cipes Of cooperation Tho movement was viewed With
considerable dlsfavOr by the majority OF the service a
drst but ultimately Board OF Directors was formed
numbering among its members gentlemen from each Of
the principal departments Of the Grown. II was agreed
to commence business with a capital OF $4,000 In shares
to be fully paid up, of SIS EACH interest to be padp
shareholders In the shape OF dividend at the
per cent per annum and never to exceed that amount
Upon this capital store was taken In the neigh
borhood of the London General PostO Office, and bnshea
was commenced provisions. and articles Of everyday
family consumption only being purchaseaoe there in tho
first instance. Members and exnembers Of the lciyl
service and their families alone tGibe as members
OF this "Clvil Service supply Association they
pectad 10 pay 81 % year for the privilege Of holding
the ticket OF membership, which was always TO be shown
in making purchase, and which was to be- as point
OF honor not transferable 10 any one outside tho
Association.
After year or two the business OF this Post
ONCE society grew to be so enormous that another
! store was opened in the Haymarket by the officials Of
the higher State Departments. This second Association
was called the civil Service Cooperative society snd
was started on precisely the principles and capa
as the parent body. As the Haymarket Society ir0nM
| can gather, the wealthy, and the petter man-
aged, OF tlfe two, it may be as well 10 conhne
my remarks to this Association alone, but not be-
fore have veDtured to lay before your
readers n few figures gathered from the last
half-yearIy report of the PostOfice Association zap
pears that during six months goods were Dough-andb
Is to be understood that these figures refer to one DE-
partment alone-to the amount Of s3 9i and sold to
the amount OF 81 1884 1885, and that the gross pront on
trading was slOiII2 which, added to a sum Of s2joS re-
ceyed from other OF revenue, made Total gross
profit of s1298O9 The working expenses including de-
probation OF furniture amounted to s925o which. de-
ducted the gross profit, left net profit OF $3.50
for the half year. The Chairman in his remarks 70 the
| shareholders, mentions that although the number OF
tickehoders had been reduced by the vote OF general
meeting the had continued TO increase; that the
Association had made very considerable amount oil nes
profit and that notwithstanding the sales had increased
the amount OF profit had increased which he held 70
be very satisfactory feature, showing that the 30
ciety not working for profit.
regret that have figures upon which TO depend
in describing the Haymarket Cooperative Society OF
Civil Servants. but what few remarks have to make
upon the subject may be taken facts within my own
knowledge 1t has been mentioned that in becoming a
member OF either association, annual subscription OF
81 2J is payable for which, when paid receipt is given
the shape of ticket to be produced at the time OF
making purchases. With this ticket book OF 40
pages is handed 10 the subscriber giving detailed t
of everything sold at the store ITSELF with price Of each
article annexed list OF every merchant or tradesman
with whom the Association has dealings, and cata-
loge of special articles sold by special radesmen a
vertisemens of merchants on the Societys list, and
other information of considerable importance to mem
bers of the civil service abroad. The Society has iu
physicians surgeons accOucheurs. apothecares, con-
sultng counsel, solicitors, stock-brokersa OF whom
are well known In London as of high standing In
their several professions-who engage to attend to tho
wants OF members of the Association at considerable
reduction OF their usual fees. One OF tho
first life insurance offices In England the Prov'
dent Clerks has understanding also with the Society
by which members are insured at lower than ordinary
rates.
But in supplying the everyday wants OF the house
hold, the Civil Service Cooperative Society benenh
its customers most Take the one ordinary item OF tea
This imported direct by the Association which relies
upon the Government tea-tasterMr brow Of the Gus
toms Department. Every chest enteras the store
the first quality Of its kind and according 10 sample
This is retaed members at almost wholesale price
IS that the not only gets reduction OF the or
dlnary retail price. but, what is OF more Importance
still, he Is also assured OF getting good article for DIS
money. With wines, spirits cofees sugars. groceries
every kind the rule applies These all imported
direct and sold wholesale prices ana, indeed every
thing Of the very best OF its KIND bought OF the lead
ing London importers merchants else shipped ron
the exporth house direct to the Socieys order Another
feature OF this Association Is that nearly every hrscS
tradesman in London is prepared TO allow discount"
its members. For instance say il A. desired 10 pr
chase gold watch The member looks in the caalogue
the heading "Watchmakers." and there he finds
that Dent & Co., Frodsham, or some equally Wen
known London firm is prepared to sell TO the members Oh
the Society at Is per cent discount He forthwith pro
ceeds, say, TO Frodsham to select watch, as an ord
nary, casual customer. The price for gold lever being
fixed by the firm at $500. the member produces tne
Society ticket. with his written signature to be com
pared with that ON the ticket and the deduction is
once made from the bil SO it is II the Civil serysn'
to purchase his weekly supply OF meat for he
family. He goes to slater. or Rosser the tbutehe"
London, and gets the discount allowed by either On
payment OF nis account. The same rule holds eooa
his wife ishes TO purchase silk dress of Messr swan
Edgar Regentst or to have II made up by the Be