Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1875-10-23
COOPERATION IN ENGLAND.
The Civil Service supply Association and
Hts WOrkingS-

This institution, little heard of in the |
United States, is one of the peculiarities |
of the British capital. The object is to
supply families with articles for consump-
ton and general at the lowest possible |
prices. 1t originated in combination
among persons holding subordinate posi-
tions under the government, municipal
and national; hence the title. With their
comparatives small salaries, and their any
iety to live respectfully, they found it
impossible to pay the high charges for the
various necessarics of life, and so they
adopted co operative system, a little
like that attempted by the oranges or the
patrons of hus3andry in some parts of
America, or, in Other words, soliciting
like the old-fashioned plan of orders
adopted in MANY Of the manufacturing
towns in our own country, the difference
here being that cash must be paid for
everything on the spot. The institution
issues 4,5GJ shares TO its members, each
of whom pay 50 orS % per annum, which,
besides securing the benefit of the society,
entities tie holder TO take part in the
meetings OF the association and TO have
voice in the management. Tickets may
| be sold to others on the payment of half
a crown (G2. cents), which tickets secure
the purchasing of goods at the stores and
| from the firms connected with the asso-
citation, but they cannot attend the meet
| ings or take part in toe management.
Tickets may also be obtained by the wild
ows of civil servants upon the payment
of half crown yearly, and by the widows
of members without payment. When
IL ~,
sists of hundreds of thousands of persons,
and that the supplies are furnished by
thousands of establishments, and that no
such thing as a pecuniary loss has ever
happened, or anything like dishonesty in
any one of the b 'anches, you realiaeraw
successful it has been. And this fan is
more apparent as you examine the prices
paid by those who enjoy the benefits Of
the system. In looking over the AsS oi
articles furnished, | perceive that it in
cludes literally everything groceries
wines and spirits, provisions, tobacco ano
cigars, hosiery, drapery, gen. and ladies
clothing, fancy goods, drugs, plate, firs
stationery and jewelry, books and music
. household furniturH; in fact everything
in the WY of necessares and luxurivs.
The price list for the quarter en- iin,
the 3lst of August, 1879, showed a re
duction of from to % per cent. Oh th
prevailing rates. When you reject tha
this organization is not patronized alou
e by the poorer classes, but is really SUI
b ported by persons in the very best Gil
cumstances, and includes, as / learn, yer
). many of the nobility, you will see at once
9 not only how useful it is, but how nece
? sary integrity is essential to its manage
/ ment. At first there was decided pr
s test against it among old establishment
l, but now it has become so powerful tn;
n it includes thousands Of co-operatiN
stores, and, of course, compels by Il
A. very nature of its competition reasonab
: prices among those who are not connect'
- with it. During the christmas holida
= some OF these civil service stores receive
- over their counters as much as S2OO,O
in single day, and it is notewortl
of fact, as illustrated, Ior instance, by n
ne Forster, M. F., in his speech on the od
he fellows, which is in England kind
he mutual relief organization, that the
bv operative system as applied to work.
= people mas been triumphant success
London Letter