NOTE. In 20 years (1862-1881) the Sales have amounted to £225,000,000

and the Profits to about £18,000,000 saved fa

The annual Profits now are over £2,00

23221

WORKING MEN

CO-OPERATORS:

What they have done, and what they are doing.

AN

ACCOUNT OF THE ARTISANS' CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN GREAT
BRITAIN, WITH INFORMATION HOW TO PROMOTE IT.

BY

ARTHUR H. DYKE ACLAND, M.A.,

Student and Steward of Christ Church, and Senior Bursar of Balliol College,
Oxford; Member of the Central Co-operative Board;

AND

BENJAMIN JONES,

Honorary Secretary of the Southern Section of the Central
Co-operative Board.

"The habit of providence and the habit of association may be said to be the
two pillars of civilisation. . Co-operation is founded on these two principles,
and thus it is a civilising influence of the highest kind. Providence is its
Lesson, and association its school."—DR. LIGHTFOOT, BISHOP OF Durham.

"In the spread of the Co-operative movement I have a great deal of
hope."-MISS OCTAVIA HILL.

CASSELL &

COMPANY, LIMITED:

LONDON, PARIS & NEW YORK.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

1884.

17 JUL 34

OXFORD

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

1. The Purpose of the Book-2. The Aims of Co-operation-3.

Statistics of Artisans' Co-operation: (a) The Retail Stores;

(b) The Wholesale Societies; (c) The Productive Societies-4.

Lassalle on Co-operation-5. Some Advantages of Co-operation

-6. The Evils of Debt-7. Two General Advantages: (a) Edu-

cational; (b) Industrial-8. Three Questions asked as to (a)

the Shopkeepers; (b) The very Poor; (c) Attraction of Co-

operators into Private Trade-9. The Co-operative Movement

and the Future

...

PAGE

CHAPTER II.

HISTORICAL OUTLINE.

Period I.-1824-1844.-Before the Foundation of the Rochdale

Pioneers

...

...

...

Period II.-1844-1864.-From the Foundation of the Rochdale

Pioneers to the Foundation of the English Wholesale Society.

Period III.-1864-1884. -From the Foundation of the Wholesale

Society to the present time. This period is sub-divided: (1)

1864-1869 before the National Congresses begin; (2)

1869-1884-from the beginning of National Congresses to the

present time...

-

CHAPTER III.

THE DISTRIBUTIVE SOCIETY OR STORE.

33

I. INTRODUCTORY.-What is meant by being a Member of a Store... 32

II. BEGINNING OF THE STORE-PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.-

Seven Matters to be considered:-1. Advice from the Co-

operative Organisations-2. The Rules-3. Registration of the

Society-4. Public Meeting-5. Collection of Money-6. Con-

ditions to be made about the Money collected-7. Arrange-

ments for paying Dividends in proportion to Purchases

III. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE, AND STARTING OF THE STORE.-

1. General Meeting-2. The Shop-3. The Store-keeper-4.

Fitting up the Shop-5. The Shop Window--6. Purchase of

Goods-7. Relation of the Store to the Wholesale and Pro-

ductive Societies-8. Amount of Stocks to keep-9. What

Prices are to be charged-10. Relation of the Store to the

Shopkeepers-11. What Profit to expect-12. Delivery of

Goods -13. Amount of Purchases by Members - 14. Non-

Members-15. Meetings-16. Voting Power of Members-17.

Position of Women-18. Duties of Members generally ...

...

38