More Info →Evans Family Collection: Mrs Evans at the Manawatu Cooperative Society shop

A photographic series prepared by the Prime Minister’s Department in 1947 to attract British migrants. The Evans family of 5 Mansford Place, Palmerston North were selected to show the living conditions of a typical New Zealand family. Betty Evans is buying groceries at the College St Co-op shop on the corner of Cook and College St. She is served by Ben Backholm (manager) and an assistant identified as Cliff (?) Entw(h)istle of Keeling St. The Manawatu Cooperative Society operated from 1935-1988, based on British models which returned profits to member shareholders by rebates on purchases. ‘The Co- op’ began with a grocery store in Broadway and developed a chain of grocery and butcher’s shops which operated in most suburbs.