History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd.

by William Reid

BARRHEAD OPPOSITION.

It might appear that the question was now settled finally, but that was far from being the case. The Barrhead Society had always been opposed to the suggestion that a branch should be established at either Paisley or Johnstone, and it was suspected that the adoption of this proposal would lead to their withdrawal from the Federation. Whatever influence the decision may have had on the final step taken by Barrhead Society, however, other influences were at work there in favour of the society commencing to bake bread for themselves. At a meeting of the committee of that society, held on 6th March 1876, the propriety of the society erecting a bakery of their own was discussed on the motion of a Mr M‘Quarrie. The committee were not favourable to the idea, but at the monthly meeting, which was held four days later, a more extended discussion took place, and, although no formal motion was made at the time, the minutes of the society record that “the members seemed to be rather in favour of starting a bakery.” At the next monthly meeting, also, held in the beginning of April, the quality of the bread which they were receiving from the Federation was discussed, and a suggestion was made that the society intimate to the Baking Society that it was their intention to erect a bakery of their own. It is apparent, therefore, that the idea of entering into the baking industry for themselves was being considered by the Barrhead people before any definite decision had been come to by the U.C.B.S. on the question of placing a branch in the West. That decision brought the question to a crisis in Barrhead, however, and at the quarterly meeting of the society, which was held on 9th May 1876, the following motion was adopted by the meeting:—

“With a view to mend past and present complaints of the bread received from the wholesale bakery, and of preventing the committee from carrying out the motion passed by the delegates at their last general meeting to plant a branch bakery in Paisley, involving us in more debt, resolved that it is the opinion of this meeting that we withdraw from the Bakery and start a bakery on our own account.”

On 22nd May a committee was appointed by the committee of Barrhead Society to look out for premises which would be suitable for a bakery. This did not settle the question even yet, however. At the meeting of the Baking Society committee, which took place on 17th June, a deputation from Barrhead came to make suggestions, particularly about the delivery of bread in the latter part of the week. From the U.C.B.S. minute we can gather, reading between the lines, that the discussion had been warm. The committee’s account of what took place states that they had “no difficulty in overtaking orders in the beginning of the week, but it was somewhat difficult to overtake them at the latter end; but the committee refused to say that they could not supply the full complement to Barrhead on the Saturday; and that Barrhead be left to conduct their business as they thought best.” It would appear, from what is known of what was taking place in Barrhead, that the deputation had mentioned the likelihood of that society withdrawing from the Federation, and the last clause was the committee’s answer to what they may have interpreted as a threat. One good result of the meeting of representatives of the two boards was that the Barrhead people were induced to reconsider their position, for a special meeting of the members was held on 30th June at which the following resolution was adopted:—

“That the question of withdrawal from the U.C.B.S. and of baking for ourselves be adjourned sine die, and that this meeting declares itself of opinion that the bread supplied, while it is pure and wholesome, has not been up to the standard of quality and appearance required by our members; and that we are unanimously opposed to any extension of the United Bakery beyond the premises that it at present occupies; and that a deputation be appointed from this meeting to place these matters before its committee of management, and to urge upon them the adoption of means to improve the quality of the bread, and the necessity of reconsidering the recent resolution to plant a branch bakery in Paisley or Johnstone, in order to preserve the integrity and harmony of the Federation.”

The result of this deputation’s visit was that a special meeting of the U.C.B.S. committee was held on 29th July, when the committee decided “that we, as a committee, take no action towards the increasing of the productive power of the bakery until such time as we hear the opinion of the forthcoming quarterly meeting on the matter.”

Everything seemed to be going smoothly now, but it was only surface tranquillity, for at the same meeting where the Barrhead Society passed the resolution quoted above they also unanimously adopted another “to grant powers to the acting committee of this society (the committee which had been appointed to look out for premises suitable for a bakery) to rent, lease, purchase, or erect premises suitable for carrying on its own trade.” At the September meeting of the Baking Society, Mr Stark, Barrhead, moved “that in order to preserve the integrity and harmony of the Federation we consider it necessary that the resolution passed at special meeting of the Federation, held on 29th April, ‘to plant a branch bakery at Paisley or Johnstone,’ be rescinded by this meeting, and that no permanent extension of the bakery take place beyond the present premises.” Mr Hall, Thornliebank, seconded.

At once Paisley Provident delegates were on the alert, and Messrs Lauchland and Cumming of that society moved as an amendment: “That this meeting adheres to the resolution agreed to at special meeting on 29th April, in reference to the planting of a branch in Paisley or Johnstone.” The discussion was long and animated, but again the glamour of a branch was on the delegates, and the Paisley amendment was agreed to by 41 votes to 30 for Barrhead motion.