The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-09-19
COOPERATIVE BUYING AS It IS BEING
CARRIED OUT IN ENGLAND
Enormous Associations There That Do Much to
Reduce The High Cost of Living

eial life of Boston, some time since
became very much interested II the
subject of Cooperative Buying in
England and has taken pains at con-
siderable expense to prepare an ac-
eurate news article on this subject.
He believes that the high cost of liy-
ing may be reduced by cooperative
buying and tells how consumers in
England reduce expenses and save
money. The article follows:
To the average citizen of the United
States the cooperative plan of buy
ing merchandise is little known, but
in England, Scotland and European
countries, it has been successfully
pursued for more than half a century
and is making large gains every year.
To illustrate the extent of co-opera-
tive buying with figures, there are in
the United Kingdom over 2,S00,00O in
dividual members of cooperative So
cieties. There were in 1909, 1885 re-
tail societies, which made returns to
the government
The largest wholesale society, which
is the wholesale and manufacturing
agent of the retail societies and own
ed by them, is the Cooperative Whole
sale Society, Limited of Manchester,
England Its sales last year amount
ed to practically $140,000,000 The
second largest wholesale cooperative
society is the Scottish Cooperative
Wholesale Society, Limited, whose net
sales for the year of 1911 was about
$32, 100000. On the sales of these two
wholesale societies alone the ultimate
consumers are saving in some cases
the manufacturers profit as well as
the wholesale dealers profit beside
other valuable considerations.
If you or |, readers of this paper,
lived in England and wished to be-
come members of a local cooperative
society, we could do so by paying
down one shilling as the first install
ment on five shares of $500 each.
Our first shilling payment would en-
title us to all the membership privi-
leges, which consists chiefly in lower
prices on purchases. When we had
paid up one full share of $500 inter
est is allowed at five percent, with
the privilege of increasing the capital,
as we wished up to $1,000, the in
creases, of course, drawing interest
at five percent, per annum and the
principal can be withdrawn at any
time with the same freedom as saw
ings can be withdrawn from a say
ings bank.
The English law does not allow
members to have shares in excess of
81 900 in one society. Having become
members of this retail cooperative
society, we would buy such merchan-
disc from its local store as was for
our interest to buy, but we would
have perfect freedom to buy from
other retail stores as We saw fit. AT
the end of each six months purchases
we would get a dividend of from 10 to
Is per cent of our gross purchases.
This could be taken out in cash or
applied to a savings fund, drawing
five per cent as before mentioned
This cooperative membership would
have several influences 1t would re-
duce the high cost of living, cultivate
the habit of saving and increase gross
savings and give us, if we were OF
moderate means, money to spend on
the better things of life after We were
fed. clothed and sheltered. The motive
these retail societies is a
helpful cooperative motive, which
aims to give the best service possible
at the lowest price and without profit
The directors of the local society
are modest public spirited men, who
give their services almost free of
charge say $40 or sl5 per year They
hire moderate priced store manager
who receives orders and delivers
goods, while the store probably has
location of low rental but easily ac-
cessible. The directors meet once
week to receive the managers report
and conduct the necessary business.
They are men who enjoy rendering
this sort of service and the honor of
trusteeship in matter of public well
fare These local societies also hold
educational meetings and provide
reading rooms, lecture courses and
other beneficial gatherings. The Co
operative Wholesale Society of Man
chester, England, is made up of 1850
of these retail societies which we have
briefly described and is the servant
of the retail societies in the capacity
of manufacturer and wholesaler.
As before stated this wholesale So
ciety does the enormous business of
$4,000, 900 worth of sales per annum
and its sales are increased at the rate
of about $5,000,000 per year. They
are wholesale general dealers, manu-
facturers, bankers, millers, printers,
bookbinders, boXmakers, Autograph
ers, ship owners, butter factors, lard