No doubt the old established shop supplies at a very low price a very rotten garment; it is warranted to last the purchaser’s time, but when the winter of that time comes it turns out a mere rag, and leaves the purchaser naked in poverty, sickness and old age. The obvious remedy would be to establish a new shop which should supply a genuine article at full price, taking the old shop into partnership on equitable terms; but it is a ‘moral obligation’ not to interfere with the capital of the old shop; so let the young victims continue to swallow the bait, lest the old ones come to grief a little earlier in the day. Never mind the young capital being ingulphed in the common ruin, but protect the property of rags. This erroneous – or to use Mr. Tidd Pratt’s expression monstrous principle, with the usual flourish about ‘independence’ and ‘every man knowing best how to manage his own affairs’ (would that he did!) appeared to me to constitute the whole case against the movement. National independence is indeed a glorious possession, and long may it be ours and our children’s! – but individual independence – ‘Lord of the lion-heart and eagle-eye – is for lions and eagles; not for man. It has been wisely ordered that no man shall be independent of his brother-man; and when I hear anyone talk big about independence, I infer that it means some form of morbid pride or the setting up of some pet crochet in defiance of common sense and public opinion. Freedom of action is quite another thing, and is clearly increased by affording a man the choice of the genuine article dear or the spurious article, cheap. Our worthy chairman at the meeting stated that from what he had passed there he came to the conclusion that the societies could not amalgamate, but my inference was rather that they would not. Banks, railways, insurance offices, when they find they cannot go on upon their own resources alone, frequently amalgamate with other concerns, contenting themselves with a lower proportionate share of profits. Differences there are, but surely not insurmountable. For instance, why should not the older members, who by retiring from a club should enable it to amalgamate on more favourable terms, have some provision made for them by those who remain on and profit by the arrangement? It would, of course, require some sacrifice on both sides; but, on the other hand, they would both secure the certain instead of the uncertain. For an exceptional object like this, honorary subscriptions would, I think, be ligitimately(sic) available without trenching on the great principle of doing ones work oneself. In conclusion, I would address a few words of friendly appeal to the members of those institutions which accordingly as they are sound or unsound are a blessing or a curse to the community which supports them. Have -
