Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Second part - XVI. Labour Legislation and Social Statistics - 2. Social Condition and Social Statistics - Introduction - The Co-operative Movement, by G. H. von Koch, Editor, Stockholm
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thb co-operative movement.
1081
the Board of Trade. Such supplies have afterwards been granted every
year, and on that account statistic investigations in modern form
have been published concerning bakeries, tobacco-manufactories, and the
mechanical works, besides which an investigation pertaining to the
printing-offices is being worked out.
A more stable position is won by the decision of the Riksdag of 1902,
according to which, since 1903, the Labour statistics is left to a special Bureau in
the Board of Trade, yet not fully organized. From this bureau a periodical
(Meddelanden) is issued quarterly, containing among other subjects reports on
strikes and lock-outs, prices, rent of workmen’s dwellings, etc.
The Co-operative Movement.
The mercantile undertakings started in Sweden on the basis of co-operation
are of very various description. In the field of agriculture there may be specially
mentioned the joint-stock dairies and the farmers’ associations. In towns and
industrial communities, there exist building and dwelling societies and associations
of bakers, while latterly combinations of producers have been formed in a number
of industries, such as: the stone, shoe, and cigar trades; it is as yet too early
to determine what future awaits them. By far the most important co-operative
enterprises at present existing in Sweden are unquestionably those which are
concerned with the distribution to their customers of the necessaries of life.
Co-operative Trading AMoolationa. Most of these associations are to
he found in the thickly populated country districts, for instance in the vicinity
of a mill or some iron works in Central Sweden, or of the sawmills in Northern
Sweden, or again, in the neighbourhood of townships that have sprung up around
the railway stations in the South of the country. It is only quite recently that
similar associations have begun to make their appearance in towns; hitherto they have
not attained any amount of success in urban communities. As, however, it is the
organized working men in the towns who have embraced the co-operative principle,
it may be safely taken for granted that in a future not far distant the forces
promoting the co-operative and trade union movements respectively, will join hands
and cordially support one another. That this consummation has not yet, in general,
been realized, is due to the mistrust cherished by the leader of the Labour Party
abroad towards co-operation; that feeling of mistrust has now given place to one
of sympathy with the movement, which will inevitably lead to a more wide-spread
interest in co-operation among working men. In the country districts the
cooperative societies have, as a rule, no connection with the workmen’s
organizations; that would, indeed, in many cases lead to difficulties, inasmuch as the
employers lend their support to the co-operative society.
In the extensive sawmill districts surrounding the towns of Gefle and Sundsvall,
there are a great number of co-operative trading societies. In these and other
industrial centers in Norrland the co-operative movement would seem to have the best
chances of development and progress. The total number of the co-operative
trading undertakings in Sweden at present is about 400. About half of the number
are Trading Companies, and therefore subject to the provisions of the Company
Act of 1895. Thus, the share-capital must amount to at least 5,000 kronor (£ 275),
the shares must have a minimum value of 10 kronor (11 shillings), and, in case
the share-capital exceeds 10,000 kronor, each share shall be at least 50 kronor.
Several of the associations of older standing, dating back in many cases to
the period 1861/80, are business undertakings pure and simple, devoid of all
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