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

roughly a real reduction IN the prices OF
the commodities bought.
An analysis of the reports OF the con-
sular officers on cooperative societies
and similar associations In the United
Kingdom was made by the bureau OF
trade relation OF the Department OF
State and is transmitted with the full
text OF the reports. This reviews the
movement as a whole and gives many in
teresting details. With other activities.
many Of the societies undertake to insure
either their corporate property or the
property or lives of their members against
various contingencies. In other instances
they simply act as agents for establish
ed insurance organizations Some organ
izations have a plan whereby members
are insured automatically to the amount
of their average annual purchases during
the three years preceding death, thus set
ting up an additional inducement for
trading at the societies stores.
Reserve Fund Maintained.
A reserve fund is maintained by nearly
all the societies. This fund is provided
for by the segregation of low percent
age of the surplus profits which may be
drawn upon in emergencies at the dis
erection of the directors. Most societies
provide instruction in accountancy, the
principles of cooperation. economics
with reference to betterment problems,
industrial history, administrative science
and cognate subjects. Lectures and
other entertainments are frequently pro-
vided and circulating libraries and read
Ing rooms are maintained. Many Of the
associations provide an annual outing for
their members. These outings are paid
for out OF the reserve funds.
Various cooperative societies have ar
rangements with doctors, dentists and
artisans by which members secure divi-
dend checks when patronizing them In
other words. commission is allowed to
the societies by the parties with whom
the arrangements are made in considera-
ton OF the patronage afforded.
Many cO-Operators are members of
labor unions and there has been a posi-
bility that the two movements would to
some extent coalesce. Up to the present
time, however, although the Cooperative
Union has committee on labor union
ism and the two movements send repre-
sentatives to each others conventions,
there has been no active aid or official
cooperation between them.
A Women's Cooperative Guild organ
ICES the woman members of cooperative
societies for social and similar purposes.
It has representative on the educa-
Union.
Various weekly and monthly publica-
tons are supported by the cooperative
societies, and there are also local So
ranging from 1000 upward. The circu-
lation Of most Of the general publications
varies from 1900 to 5000, but there is
one with $1,000 subscribers. The publ
has nearly 10000 subscribers and is the
organ Of 500 societies. It is issued by
most Of them as their own record. with
from one to sixteen pages printed
especially for themselves.
Coal Also Handled.
A number Of the consular reports de-
scribe the semi-private cooperation con-
Germs, which are patterned to a greater
or less degree after the Rochdale and al
lied systems. The most important of
these is the Civil Service Supply Asso-
citation, which originated among en-
ployes Of the Post Office Department. who
dubbed together to secure wholesale
rates on the more common household
supplies. The experiment was an imme-
date success, and other governmental
employees joined the movement The Civil
Service Supply Association established the
first department stores in London, which,
after many years, were opened to the
general public. It's sales now approx
mate 100000 600 annually. No dividends
are paid. The Army and Navy Stores are
operated on the same general lines as the
Civil Service Supply Association.
Consumers coal associations have re-
Gently succeeded in a number OF British
cities. A representative organization of
this type in London operates by securing
competitive tenders from leading collieries
each summer. and. when prices have thus
been ascertained, furnishing order blanks
to members. upon which the latter con-
amounts of these orders are totaled and
arrangements are concluded with the sue
cessful bidders. The coal Is delivered and
lowing winter u&on orders from the pur-
chasing membei1 Each member IL liable
only for the amount OF his contract og-l