74 
BARMEN. 
RETAIL PRICES. 
Groceries and other Commodities. 
There are no " multiple ” firms for the sale of groceries and similar com 
modities in Barmen, and the working classes have to choose between one or 
other of the many private grocers and the Co-operative Society “ Vorwärts ” 
with its 5,600 members, its 15 branch stores, and sales amounting to about 
£83,500 (year ended June 30th, 1905). 
The competition of the co-operative stores is strongly resented by the 
private shopkeepers, and has led to the formation (quite recently) of an associa 
tion for purposes of defence, styling itself " Society for the Defence of Commerce 
and Industry.” Membership of this society is not confined to grocers and pro 
vision dealers, but includes shopkeepers of all kinds, for its policy is also hostile 
to the principle of large private stores selling a great variety of commodities. 
The principal feature of this society is its " Savings-Discount Branch.” This 
branch supplies members with stamps — resembling small, oblong, postage 
stamps—for which it charges at the rate of 10s. per 1,000. Every member is 
obliged to give one or more of these stamps to every customer who pays cash 
for his purchase, the number being proportionate to the value of the purchase. 
Customers can obtain from any member of the society a book into which such 
stamps are pasted, the books being provided with spaces to hold either 500 or 
1,000 stamps. When the book is full, it is worth to the holder 5s. in the former 
and 10s. in the latter case, for he can offer it in payment for those amounts 
respectively to any shopkeeper belonging to the society. Or he can deposit it 
with the society which treats it as a savings deposit and pays interest at the rate 
of 5 per cent, per annum. Each book contains a list of the local shopkeepers 
belonging to the society arranged according to the class of article sold. The 
society claims as one of the advantages of the savings-stamp system that it has 
enabled many of the poorer classes to clear themselves gradually of debts 
arising out of longstanding accounts by paying in the books when full, and 
being credited with the amount in part payment of the old account. The 
society repurchases the books filled with stamps from its members for 9s. 6d. 
and 4s. 9d. respectively. This system is common in other Rhineland towns, 
including Elberfeld and Düsseldorf. 
The following table shows the predominant prices paid by the working 
classes for groceries and other commodities in October, 1905, and May, 1906. 
There was no appreciable movement of prices during the intervening period. 
PredommaMd Pnces joafd /Ac lEorhW/ GWes w OcMer, 1905, aW 
May, 1906. 
Commodity. 
Coffee 
Sugar :— 
Loaf ... ... 
White granulated 
Bacon :— 
Fat 
Streaky 
Eggs 
Cheese :— 
Dutch .. 
Limburg 
Butter 
Margarine 
Potatoes ... 
Flour (household) 
Bread (see special note 
Milk 
Coal ... ... 
Paraffin oil 
per lb. 
in 
per Is. 
per lb. 
per 7 lbs. 
text as to this) , 
per quart 
... per cwt. 
per gallon 
Predominant Price. 
October. 1005. 
lid. 
2fd., 3d. 
2|d., 2# 
9|d. 
9f d. 
14 
8#d 
5\d. 
Is. 3\d. 
id. to 8fd. 
2^d to 3¿d. 
Is. 1 \d. 
2iyd. 
Is. Old. 
9 |-(i. to lOd. 
May, 1906. 
lid. 
2%d., 3d. 
2fd., 2\d. 
91 d. 
9|d. 
17 
8|d. 
5\d. 
Is. 2fd. 
id. to 8|d. 
2\d. to 3\d. 
Is. lfd. 
2\d. 
Is. Ofd. 
9 Id. to lOd.