Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14

butter, ham and wheat, which showed
that the Increase In prices had ranged
from 10 to 90 per cent in the twelve
years following 1898. Reports from con-
suiar omcers In other countries showed
similar advances.
Referring to the general subject matter
of the consular reports, the Acting Sec
rotary OF State says that much interest
attaches to the cooperative associa-
tons in the United Kingdom because
England may be said to be the nursery
of these societies. The consular officers
describe the inception and growth and
the organization and operation Of the
cooperative. associations. both distribu-
tive and productive. The collective
United kingdom as whole is shown by
statistical summary. In 1862 there
were 400 societies, with 10000 members.
The value of the sales was 81, 3s3. 900
sterling. In 1908 the number Of societies
was slightly in excess of 1900, with q
membership of 2.7O1.O0O. The value of
sales was G112,OOO,OO0 sterling and the
net profits were s10.s97. 600 sterling.
Are Distributive Agencies.
1t is noted that the increased registra-
ton of cooperative societies in recent
years is probably due to the impetus
given to the organization of cooperative
agricultural societies through the parent
Agricultural Organization Society The
cooperative agricultural societies are aid
ed by the parent society in negotiations
with railway companies government de-
partments and business houses. They are
organized In much the same manner as
distrtbutive societies. Supplies Of all
kinds are purchased jointly at wholesale.
Farm produce is graded and distributed
through means Of depots maintained in
neighboring towns or through selling
agents. Markets are visited by agents
who inform the members as to the quality
and price of produce.
The Cooperative Union located at Man
chester has contributed greatly to the
formation and growth of cooperative So
cieties generally. The objects of the
union are a diffusion OF information in
regard to the movement and the assist
ance of individual societies. 1t main
uganda, legislation, exhibitions, trades
unionism, credit training and legal de-
tense.
The development of cooperation in the
United Kingdom Is continuing at fair
rate. although not so rapidly as in the
earlier years. The growth thus far has
been confined to the wage laboring
classes. A study of the movement by
localities shows that cooperation has
fiourished mainly in the industrial and
manufacturing districts. An example Of
the growth of individual societies and the
manner In which their activities have ex-
banded is found in the account given of
a cooperative society located at Leeds
which was founded in 1s47 for the primary
purpose of securing cheaper -four.
British cooperation Is affiliated with the
International Cooperative Alliance, which
comprises the leading cooperative organ
izations In the continental countries OF
Europe, and holds international con-
crosses triennially.
Tradesmen Less Hostile.
Opposition on the part Of non-co-opera-
tive tradesmen Is now decidedly less in
tense than in the earlier stages OF the
movement, the consular officers report.
but a widespread antagonism still exists
among British shopkeepers and criticism
is constant and searching. The claim is
made by opposing interests that Coop
erative trading cannot compete with le-
Ultimate retail trading, and In support
of this contention figures are given OF
grocers' prices and % cooperative So
ciety prices of various food products In
which the grOcers' figures are less than
those of the cooperative societies.
It is noted in reference to criticism OF
this character that the cooperative So
cieties do not undertake to sell at lower
than current prices, their aim being to
give the purchaser the benefit claimed
for cooperative purchasers by returning
it in the form of dividend. The esti-
mate is made that for the United King
dom as a whole the dividends would av-
erage not far from 0 per cent of the
purchase price paid by the cooperative
purchasers. The critics Of the co-opera-
tive movement allege that these dividends
are obtained by sacrificing the purity
and excellence Of the merchandise fur
nished or by an actual raising Of prices
to compensate for the amount Of the div
idends. The majority Of the consular
reports seem to infer that the dividends
paid to purchasing members do measure