DISSATISFACTION IN PAISLEY AND JOHNSTONE.
It is easy to understand that the Paisley and Johnstone societies were not satisfied with the delays which were taking place in placing a branch somewhere in their neighbourhood. They had succeeded in carrying their point in 1873, but the financial position of the Federation had prevented anything from being done. Then in April of 1876 they had secured a majority of votes—true, it was only a majority of three—in favour of their proposals, and in September this decision had been confirmed by a much larger majority. Yet, in view of the strenuous opposition of Barrhead Society and the repeated threats of withdrawal made by that society, they must have recognised that it would not do to hurry matters, for with almost 600 dozen loaves taken away from the weekly output of the Federation, the premises would be ample; and, in view of that contingency, the committee of the Bakery were justified in pursuing a cautious policy. Notwithstanding the chairman’s disclaimer of any “official” knowledge of Barrhead Society’s intentions, it was generally known throughout the Federation that they had decided to start baking for themselves, and it was doubtless this knowledge which was responsible for the statement by the chairman that “no action had been taken” to establish a branch being allowed to pass as quietly as it did.