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Leader (1850-1860), 7th August 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 748, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      "been printed and widely circulated , I made also the following statement : — "As to the views of the Central Co-operative Agency , they were not , properly speaking , founding a co-operative store but an institution intended to realize certain objects , among which he might single out as one of no ordinary importance , the education , of an- improved , body of distributors , the first step towards a successful realization of the idea of a superior system of distribution .

      " Now , could they imagine that this class was not as interesting as any other class of working men ? The trustees and partners felt , if not more , certainly the same , interest for this class as they did for any other class of working men ; and , consequently , it was their intention to admit such persons to participate in some benefits which they did not enjoy under the old system of trade . Though by the constitution of the new Central Agency they could not be made associates anymore than the customers , yet an Association of Shopmen could be formed , and a Conference instituted to train them in the principles upon which the central agency intended to carry on business . of

      " The establishment would thus , by the stimulus immediate self-interest , endeavour to show these young men that it was better to go on the new principle than the old one . " I have always considered the making of active efforts to carry out the numbers 3 and 4 among the four principles above ) quoted , and to organize an association of shopmen , and a conference particularly devoted to the same class of people , as being my especial province in the institution , called 4 ) he Central Co-operative Agency .

      Without any view of underrating the great good which has already been done , and is still doing through the instrumentality of that establishment , I may say that the points just alluded to have been almost entirely omitted in the zealous and successful exertions made by the trustees and partners of the Co-operative Agency to promote its development . Had this not been , the unavoidable result of the capital of the establishment having other more immediate employment , of certain external obstacles , the principal responsibility of any fault should fall upon me , as I acknowledge that attending to those points was my especial duty in the management of the Cooperative Agency .

      In fact , experience having shown that the two first items of our common views of commercial reform were carried out as satisfactorily as possible , in the present arrangements of the Co-operative Agency , whilst the other points remained forcibly unattended to , I felt myself bound , at the cost of some hardship , to try to do , in some other way , but to the profit of the general co-operative movement , what could not be elsewhere effected . Such have been , as far as public interest is concerned , the motives of my withdrawal .

      Now , it was no slight difficulty for me to find and to prepare the new framework of practical action , whereby I could promote the objects 1 have more particularly in view , in benefitting , at the same time , the existing Co-operative Stores and associations of working men , whatever may be the defects of their present constitution . * After mature consideration , leaving for another especial eflbrt , what is to bo done regarding the Provident Institution , and Educational Conference for shopmen , I have ; resolved to take up and to work out by means of u now institution , to bo called tlio Hoard of Supply and JJemand , the third point set forth in the programme of industrial reform which I have framed , and winch I will endeavour , by all proper means , to curry into execution . This third point is as follows : —•

      " That the most legitimate and efficient means which tho wealthier classes lmvc for aiding the working men , and both working men and the wealthiest cIuhhch for uiding tho poor out oi" employment , iti to secure their consumption to co-operative est . ablinhinentn , by giving their orders through a regular channel , acting under an especial responsibility for tho purpoHe . " 1 enclose tho first draft of the above-named establishment , ( Hoard of ftuvply and Demand ) and will be

      thankful in receiving your friendly coinmunicatioiiH and suggestions . I beg to . subscribe myself , Yours obediently , Jirracs Lwhkvamkk St . An i > hk , Lute Maunder of the Central Oo-ojx'rativo . Afjeney , at 7 ( 1 , Charlotte Blreot . London , 6 , OhiirlflH Htreel , Hoho , July 24 th , 185 a .

      Wo have received » . copy of Mr . IiOehevnlier St . Andre ' s I'lnn , printed for private circulation . It in an application of tho principle of bartering to trading operations ; and iw a menus of bringing concert to l « fnr on exchanges it is well worthy of consideration . We nhn . ll have to give it closer attention at a Hituro opportunity .

      Untitled Article

      * I nmy Hoon find tho opportunity of stating flomo views on thiu Buhjoct ,

      Untitled Article

      CO-OPEBATIVE LEAGUE . Mb . William Coningham occupied the chair at the evening meeting on Tuesday . Me . Lloyd Jones read a paper on " Co-operative Stores and Co-operative Workshops—their value in the Social Movement . " He noticed it as a distinctive feature of the social , reformers , that they did not attach so much importance to what is called political freedom , although he did not deny its necessity , as they did to the development of the self-controlling power of the individual members of the commonwealth—at the same time that there were great differences between them as to the means of affecting this object . Now in every end , there must be a proportion between the means and the end , and the means which we had to use for effecting the ends of social reforms , must be founded upon that

      which existed in the world as it is . Co-operative Stores and Workshops appeared to him to be one of the best instruments hitherto devised to aid the masses of the community in working out their deliverance from the tyranny now exercised over them by the evil actions of the material forces of the world . The Co-operative workshops gave the working man the control over his own work , and all profits , subject to any payment which he might agree to make for the use of capital . It did not follow that they would materially increase the demand for labour , except in so far as they might lead to the consumption of the profit , which would otherwise be only accumulated . Co-operative Workshops became much more important when connected with the Co-operative Store . The essential idea of these institutions was the union of a

      number of persons for the purpose of supplying themselves with articles of ordinary consumption . This gave the benefit of greater cheapness , of freedom , from adulteration , advantages not to be despised . But it gave also an opportunity of controlling and directing it , and the profit arising from it , an immense source of power which might be used to attain any of the higher ends which we might have in view : some looked down contemptuously , on trade , which it was the object of these institutions to carry on . But the nobility of the act depended upon the spirit in which it was done , and all the influential powers now in the world arose from the use of such means as those which in these workshops and stores , placed in the reach of the working body of the population .

      Mr . Stiles gave an interesting account of the progress of a great store , formed in Westminster more than twenty years ago , of the great zeal displayed by the members for tho education of their children , of the immediate cause of the failure of the store in the want of business habits in the members , and in the absence of an organization like the Central Agency , for the supply of trust-worthy material . Mr . Jennison , Mr . Coningham , Mr . Furnival , Mr . Saull , Mr . Woodin , Mr . Foreman , Mr . Arnaud , Mr . R . Cooper , and Mr . Yansittart Neale , also look part in the discussion .

      Mr . Jones , in reply , noticed the great difference in the constitution of the stores at present , from that of tho former stores , namely , that the profits were divided amongst tho buyers in proportion to their purchases , paying a good interest to capital , while , in tho old stores , the profit went only to the capital .

      Untitled Article

      It may satisfy inquirers to know that wo did not exclude tho report of the Co-operative Conferencewhich wo had prepared last week—because of its sectarian and exclusive character , so damaging , as we conceive , to the interests advocated by that Conference , but simply from pressure upon our space , which compelled us to exclude the far inoro important document of M . Lechevalier . CO-OPERATIVE C 0 NK 1 S 1 U 5 NC . R . A coni'KUHNCe of delegates from tho various bodies engaged in practical co-operation , commenced its sittings on Monday forenoon , in a new Hall attached to the premises of the Working Tailors' Association , in Castle-street , Oxford-street . The conference was called by the Council of the Society for Promoting Working Men ' s Associations , for the purpose of taking into consideration various propositions intended to give strength and unity to a movement which appears to be spreading widely throughout the United Kingdom . Mr . Smith , of the Liverpool Tailors' Association and Institute , whs called to tho chair ; mid thorn wore delegates present from the Piinlioo Working Huildors' Association , the Edinburgh Co-oporativo Society , the OtilahIuoIs Provision Store , the Bradford Co-oporativo Store , the Halifax Co-operative Store , tho Manchester Working Hatters' and Tailors' Association , the London . Working Pianoforte-makers' Association , also from tho Metropolitan Working Shoemakers' , Tailors ' , and Printcra' Associations ; the Doptford Tron-works , the North London Builders , tho Smiths' Auuociution , tho

      City Tailors , and the North London and Garratt ' s-road Manchester Stores , and the Ladies' Guild . The first business was to receive the reports of the delegates as to the position of the bodies they represented , from which it appeared they were , generally speaking , successful in a pecuniary point of view though they had to struggle against considerable difficulties , in consequence of the want of legal protection and other causes now partially surmounted . The Conference then proceeded to take up the questions in the programme—the first of which was the propriety , of all associations enrolling themselves under the new Act .

      The next proposition was , that all co-operative establishments should make it a rule to sell all articles exactly for what they are . The Conference then proceeded to consider what steps could be advantageously taken for the establishment or extension of institutions for the purpose of giving security and force to the co-operative movement . A committee was appointed to draw up a code of rules for a Co-operative Friendly Society , with branches , after the model of the Odd Fellows and similar societies ) .

      It was also remitted to the same committee to report as to the plans of a Co-operative Investment Society , and the expediency of co-operative societies entering into relations with it , and also to recommend any other plan for establishing societies , to advance capital to co-operative bodies . It was then agreed that the next annual Conference be held in Manchester , on the 15 th August , 1853 , and an executive committee was appointed to transact generally such business as may come before it during the ensuing year , connected with the interest of the cooperative movement , to prepare for the business of the next Conference , and to report . This closed the business , and after a vote of thanks to the chairman , the Conference terminated .

      AN ACT TO LEGALIZE THE FOBMATION OF INDTJSTBIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES , 15 and 16 , c . 31 . The Co-operative League has reprinted this important act , with some explanatory observations , as the second part of the Appendix to the second number of the Teans actions . It is sold in a separate form , and we may pronounce it an indispensable manual to every working association .

      Untitled Article

      COFFEE AND CHICORY . It is generally understood that the Treasury minute of 1840 , allowing the admixture of chicory with coffee , is rescinded ; and that the new regulations for tho future sale of that article will be announced to the trade by the excise , in the course of a few days . Subjoined is the Treasury order , which has just been issued , prohibiting the vending of chicory under tho name of coffee , but leaving every dealer at liberty to dispose of each article under its proper name : — "Genebal Obdek . "August 3 , 1852 . " In pursuance of directions from tho Itight Hon . tho Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty ' s Treasury , dated the 29 th ult ., " Ordered , —That tho general order of AuguBt 31 , 184 ( 0 , directing ' that no objection bo made , on tho part of this revenue , to dealers in and sellers of cofleo mixing chicory with cofleo , or to thoir having the same so mixed in their possession , ' bo rescinded . " That in futuro licensed dealers in coffee bo allowed to

      keep and sell chicory , or other vogetablo substances prepared to resemblo coffee , provided that they be sold unmixed with coffee , in packages scaled or otherwise secured ^ containing respectively not loss than 2 oz ., and having pasted thereon a printed label , with tho name or firm ol tho seller , tho exact weight , and truo description of < " « article contained therein ; and provided that no such article be kept » in a loose state , or otherwise than in such packages as aforesaid , in any room entered for tho storeago or milo of coffee . . . " That all licensed dealers in coffeo be furnished willi n copy of this order , and informed that they must abide tho consequences if , after tho expiration of three months trom tho date hereof , they continue to sell cofleo mixed wil " ingredient contrary to law i

      any . " Each officer must prepare a scheme in his genera entry book , in which he must insert the name and reside n < - > of every dealer in cofleo in his station , and tho dalo ( > furnishing him with a copy of this order , adding therein his own signature in proof of tho delivery of tho said order .

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      THE PHILOSOPHY OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS . Mn . Ham it hi , Lajnu , M . P ., Chairman of the London and Brighton Railway , nnulo tho following renimks < j » compensation for railway accidents , at the lmli-yei" y meeting , held on Monday . It is very instructive :--" With respoct to the compensation for accidents , ho regretted to way that they had had to pay : i , MXW . on aceouiH' <» some accidents , which' it was not known at tho "" I " . ^ been attended with very serious consequence * . It < li < ' become him , a « ilia head of a public company , to «» m P "" of the law of the land ; but it did appear to him » f , < hurduhip upon ruilwuy companion that they should bt )» u * u

      Untitled Article

      74 £ THE LEAfiER . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 7, 1852, page 748, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1946/page/8/