Co-Operative Production (Volume 1) - Benjamin Jones

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894. Excerpt: ... fund, and a young man, a shoemaker, who had sold his London shop and handed over the proceeds to promote 'this higher co-operative work.' The remainder were gardeners, labourers, carpenters, &c Besides tilling their land, the community had begun shoemaking, and were talking of commencing the manufacture of agricultural implements. The community was unfortunate. It was evicted from its land, and for some time led a miserable existence on the highway. In September, 1878, it numbered about 80 persons, and through the kindness of Mr. Auberon Herbert and some other friends, they were allowed to temporarily occupy a ruined cottage and a small field'. From here they melted away into the outer world. The North Seaton Co-operative Farming Society was registered on September 15, 1873'. It originated through the difficulty which the workmen at the North Seaton Colliery experienced ' in obtaining a supply of milk for the use of their families. Not only had their children to travel a considerable distance to procure it, but they frequently failed to obtain a quantity sufficient to meet their wants. How to obviate the difficulty became the question of the hour, ' and, 'afzer a few meetings had been held, ' the formation of the society was decided upon. 'It was agreed that the capital should be made up of transferable shares of 1 each... and a sufficient amount having been subscribed to warrant the commencement of business, application was made to the officials of the colliery, who granted the use of a stable until a more suitable building was erected; and on the following week three cows were purchased, to which a fourth was added in the course of a few days V The society was a success from the commencement At the end of 1874 there were 122 members, with 228..."