HAT has happened to the
Co-ops in the seven years since the Independent Commission’s Report? Proposals aimed “at streamlining co-operative organisation, are ultimately dependent on the amalgamation of societies into viable units” say Sidney Pollard, Professor of Econom‘c History at Sheffield University, in a new Fabian pamphlet. “The Independent Commission proposed that the number of societies should be rapidly reduced from 1,000 to 2-300... This advice has not been taken, though the rate of amalgamation has speeded up in recent years,; numbers falling from 936 in 1957 to 769 in 1963.” In the competitive position of the co-ops, the author says “Between 1950 and 1957, the movement roughly held its own and in some important fields was, in fact, still making progress. In 1957-61, however, there was a drastic fall in the share of total retail trade in virtually every commodity group, and this decline has, if anything been accelerated since.” The retail sales index for the latest month (August 1964) shows a further six point drop in Co-op sales. In a series of recommendations, the author advocates closer collaboration between the central bodies. Retail Societies should be persuaded to channel their purchases through the central. body. Existing policy to create national chains should be pursued with greater vigour. Further Local Societies should be pursuaded to federate their specialist shops in viable regional chains. In the long term the author advocates the transformation of the Consumer Co-operative Movement “into an organisation which has a positive role to play in the interests of all consumers, both by bringing pressure to bear on producers, and by actively educating its members’ and the public’s taste, by raising their standard of values, and by improving the use made of their increased resources.” * The Co-operatives at the Crossroads, by Sidney Pollard. Published by the Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, S.W.1. Price 4/- (4/3 post free) 44 pages. Use ‘The Week’ Co-op. No.:
Nottingham 25637