The Report goes on to suggest that municipalities -.would be
able to use the credit of the rate-payers to borrow at a lower rate of interest than is possible for the Co-operators. Altogether we could not wish to have the case for voluntaryism against Socialism better stated, but the Report is most disappointing at the end, where it approves of the idea that the Co-operative Union might well act as the agent of municipalization. Thus the Report stultifies its whole previous argument. The pass is sold after a very gallant defence. If munici- palization is contrary to the interests of the community it cannot suddenly become desirable in the interests of the community merely because it is organized by a delegated Co-operative Society. The delegated society would soon find out that voluntaryism and Socialism are not, after. all, reconcilable. Yet on Monday the Congress unanimously adopted the Report. On Wednesday a vote was taken on the real question whether the alliance with Labour is desirable. The anti-alliance speakers had a bad hearing, but the voting was significant : 2,465 voted for the alliance and 1,470 against it. .
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