The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-05-09
COOPERATION IN
THE old COUNTRY
p.esident Sends TO Congress Second
I,stallment of Reports Based on
Investigation Abroad-plants In
France Owned by Operatives

washington, May President
raft today sent to congress the
second installment of the reports
90 consular officers on cooperation
and the cost Of living which are the
rasnlt Of the investigation he some
time ago directed should be made.
The countries included in this in
stallment are France, Belgium, the
Netherlands and Denmark. The
ronorts are accompanied by a let
tor from Huntington Wilson, acting
secretary of state.
Ii appears from the information
collected. the acting secretary says,
that the rising cost of living has
directed attention to and augment
cd the membership Of the coop
oratiye societies, more especially
n France and Belgium. The
French cooperative associations
are IN the main arranged on the
came system as those IN the
limited Kingdom. The tendency is
toward small societies and the
Great majority of the associations
represent groceries and bakeries.
The most successful dlstrlbutlve
societies are in the manufacturing
cities of northeastern and central
France. Among these societies re-
nef finds are administered and
insurance against illness and forced
acknowledgement is supplied. Ar
rancements are made with dentists,
doctors and artesians for their
services by members on a COM
mission basis.
The operation Of the agricul-
tural societies has been especially
successful in Southern France.
The French government has given
encouragement to these societies
by furnishing expert advice, grant
inc subyentions and permitting
long term loans by agricultural
credit associations. The general
buying is done principally through
district unions. High grade farm
machinery such as is beyond the
reach of many individual members
Is purchased from the SURPRISES
or Is loaned cautiously or upon
the payment Of nominal fees.
Government employees are to a
large extent organized into coop
erative societies. Many of the as
soeiations are affiliated with labor
unions that restrict their member
ship to persons engaged IN a given
occupation.
In regard to industrial co-operr
alive production it appears that
plants owned and operated by OPP
eratives are not uncommon IN
France. In Lyons, for example,
the enterprise is conducted by So
cieties composed of their own OPP
eratives, including printing and
engraving, building, plumbing
tailoring, weaving, tanning, car
pentering. paper hanging, the max
ing of pasteboard boxes and the
making of metallic furniture.
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 a tendency to keep pric-
es throughout the district where
they are located to a 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 almost wholly contingent upon
the capability and the altruism OF
the management Of the respective
districts.
In Belgium, the consular reports
state, large portion of the coop
eratiye societies sell at prices low
er than those of the regular mar
kets, allowing. only members TO
purchase, and have only minimum
profits to distribute. Many socle-
ties guarantee a per cent dlyl-
dend on all purchases and distrl-
butte all remaining profits to va
rious funds for insurance, pen
sions, strike relief, indeu1nities for
injuries and the like.
In the Netherlands the Coop
erative movement has had its larg-
est growth since 1880. The as
ISOLATION includes domestic sup
plies, agricultural supplies, cream
cries, farmers loan banks, and
savings banks. A cash basis IS
strictly maintained. The annual
dividends returned to the purchas-
ers average between 8 and 10 per
cent Arrangements are made with
dentists. doctors and merchants,
who sell goods which the society
does not handle, to give the So
clety commission on business done
with its members.
IN Denmark sales are confined
70 members Of the societies unless
the latter wish to subject them
selves to taxation. The joint as
ISOLATION Of Danish cooperative
societies operates numerous fac
tories and warehouses throughout
Denmark. Al present the average
dividends range from 5 per cent 70
~ per cent. The statement is made
N the consular report that the
prices charged by private dealers
Is kept down.
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