JONDITIONS IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES. 355

of Great Britain, and the metal-buying combinations of England and
Germany. The Commission has information regarding buying combinations
 in many other countries, and in various lines, such as the
combinations of lumber wholesalers in Australia, the combination
which before the war existed among the lumber buyers in the region
of the lower Rhine, that of the Swiss manufacturers who use tinplate,
that of the importers of hominy feed, of phosphates and cottonseed
products in Germany, of cotton manufacturers in Austria, and many
others.

COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The extensive growth of the cooperative movement in the United
Kingdom is but little realized by the average American. This is due
mainly to the fact that the movement, originating among the British
and Scotch working classes about 60 years ago, has never sought
publicity for itself through general advertising. It grew gradually,
content with making small savings, and owing much to the fidelity
and unselfish devotion of its leaders. At the end of 1913 there were
in the United Kingdom 3,636 retail cooperative societies, having
3,327,125 members. Their combined capital, share and loan, was
314,528,723, their total sales that year were $675,482,644, and
their net profits amounted to $71,274,959.
The various societies early saw that their interests would be better
conserved if a central wholesale buying organization were established
Accordingly, in 1863, after nearly three years of discussions and conferences,
 the Cooperative Wholesale Society (Ltd.), was formed
and the following year commenced business with headquarters at
Manchester.? Four years later, in 1868, the Scottish Cooperative
Wholesale Society (Litd.), was started with headquarters at Glasgow.
These two wholesale societies are similar in aims and purposes, differing
 only in size and territory covered. Membership in them
appears to be limited to registered cooperative societies (retail) and
their own employees. Their business relations with each other are
close and a number of their depots and other enterprises are operated
jointly.
The Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society, Ltd.—This organization,
 formed in 1868, is very similar to the English society except in
size. A number of its foreign enterprises are operated jointly with
that society. At the end of 1914 the number of retail societies holding
 its shares was 269, representing a membership in those societies
of 456,806 persons. Its capital resources amounted to $23,105,541,
its total sales for the year were $45,881,906, and its net profits were
$1,625,742. In June, 1915, it had 9,104 employees.
— 1 The Cooperative Wholesale Societies (Ltd.), Annual, 1916, p. 535.
'Tbid., p. 209.
Ibid. D. 402.