Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-05-10
CHECK THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING
RESULTS OF COOPERATIVE uN-
IONS IN EUROPE ARE GIVEN
TO THE PUBLIC.
REPORTS FROM OUR CONSULS
President Transmits to Congress the
Second lnstallment, Which Covers
France, Belgium, the Neither
lands and Denmark.

Washington. = The president Oh
May transmitted to congress the Sec
ond installment of the reports of con-
sular officers on cooperation and the
cost of living which are the result of
the investigation he some time ago
directed should be made. The coun-
tries included in this installment are
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Denmark. The reports are accompa-
MED by letter from Huntington Will
son, acting secretary of state.
1t appears from the information col
lected, the acting secretary says, that
the rising cost of living has directed
attention to and augmented the mem
bership of the cooperative societies,
more especially in France and Bel
GUM. The French cooperative asso-
Citations are in the main arranged
up on the same system as those in the
United Kingdom. The tendency is to-
wards small societies and the great
majority of the associations represent
groceries and bakeries. The most sue
cessful distributive societies are in
the manufacturing cities of northeast
ern and central France. Among these
societies relief funds are administered
and insurance against illness and
forced unemployment is supplied.
Arrangements are made with dentists,
doctors and artisans for their services
by members on a commission basis.
The operation of the agricultural So
cieties has been especially successful
in southern France. The French gov
ernment has given encouragement to
these societies by furnishing expert
advice, granting subventions, and per-
mitting long term loans by agricul-
tural credit associations. The general
buying is done principally through dis
trict unions. High-grade farm ma
chinery, such as is beyond the reach
of many individual members, is pur-
chased from the surpluses or is loaned
gratuitously or upon the payment of
nominal fees.
Government employees are to large
extent organized into cooperative So
cieties Many of the associations are
affiliated with labor unions that re-
strict their membership to persons en-
gagged in given occupation.
In regard to industrial cooperative
production it appears that plants
owned and operated by the operatives
are not uncommon in France.
The consular reports state that the
French cooperative societies usually
sell at prices which are neither higher
nor lower than those of private stores
and that they have tendency to keep
| prices throughout the district where
| they are located down to fair level
as we'll as to enhance the purity and
quality of the goods. The degree of
reduction in the cost of living is al
most wholly contingent upon the capa-
bility and the altruism of the manage
ment of the respective districts.
In Belgium, the consular reports
state, large proportion of the CO.
operative societies sell at prices lower
than those of the regular markets, al
lowing only members to purchase, and
have only nominal profits to dis
tribute. Many societies guarantee a
per cent dividend on all purchases
and distribute all remaining profits to
various funds for insurance, pensions,
strike relief indemnities for injuries,
and the like.
In the Netherlands the cooperative
associations include domestic sup
plies, agricultural supplies, creameries,
farmers loan banks and savings
banks. A cash basis is strictly main
tanned. In Denmark sales are con-
fined to members of the cooperative
societies unless the latter wish to sub
ject themselves to taxation. The joint
association of Danish cooperative So
cieties operates numerous factories
and warehouses throughout Denmark