MORE BUILDING.
At the same time another addition, which included duplicating the stable accommodation and carrying both sections a storey higher, was being carried out. By this time also, new ground had been secured in South York Street, and it was decided to utilise the buildings there for a new biscuit factory, in which one double travelling oven and six hand ovens would be built. It was also agreed to put in a hoist into the building, so as to enable it to be used for packing and storage purposes.
It is worthy of note, in connection with the alteration of the old building to make it suitable for a biscuit factory, that it was decided to have the work done by means of labour employed directly by the Society. This decision marks the inception of the building department of the Society, a department which has since then carried out some of the most important work done by the Society. The block of land, which had been the most recent purchase, and which cost £8,500, made the Society the owner of the whole of the M‘Neil Street-South York Street block, and gave space for expansion which has only been completely utilised in comparatively recent years.
The most recent addition to the Society’s premises was not completed any too soon. The membership by this time consisted of 51 societies, although several of these, including the Paisley and Johnstone societies, were customers for biscuits only. The trade being done amounted to over 1,200 sacks per week, or 15,700 a quarter, while about 450 sacks were being turned into biscuits in the quarter, and over 360 sacks of oatmeal into oatcakes. The progress which was being made in those two departments was remarkably rapid, and must have been most encouraging to the directors, and the general progress made showed that only a very short time was likely to elapse ere still another extension would be called for.
CHAPTER X.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
BONUS INVESTMENT SOCIETY FORMED—AN INSURANCE FUND—ADVERTISING THE SOCIETY’S PRODUCTS—PURVEY DEPARTMENT AND TEAROOMS—FEEDING THE HUNGRY—A WORK’S FIRE BRIGADE—CONTINUOUS GROWTH—DELIVERY DIFFICULTIES—ELECTION OF MR JAMES BAIN.
It is to the late Mr Peter Glasse that the honour of suggesting the formation of the U.C.B.S. Bonus Investment Society belongs. Probably the idea would have occurred to someone else sooner or later, but Mr Glasse is entitled to the honour which is given to all pioneers. It was at the meetings of the sub-committee, held during December 1887, that Mr Glasse first brought up the subject, and at the committee meeting which was held on 17th December of that year the question of doing something to induce the employees to capitalise their “bonus” in the Society, instead of withdrawing it each quarter, was considered. It was left at that time in the hands of the committee to consult with the employees on the subject, but for some time the sub-committee were too busily employed on other matters connected with the Society to do anything, and it was not until nearly four years had elapsed that anything practical was done. The question was again raised by Mr Glasse, who moved a resolution, which was unanimously agreed to by the committee, expressing the opinion that the large sums of money which had been paid by the Society in the form of “bonus” had not been the means of helping forward the true principles of Co-operative “profit sharing,” and agreeing that a committee of three be appointed from the board to meet with the employees, with the object of arranging a more satisfactory system. Messrs M‘Culloch, Glasse, and M‘Intosh were appointed to carry the proposal through.
This decision was arrived at in February 1891, and in April of that year a conference of the directors and the employees took place, presided over by Mr M‘Culloch, at which the chairman put before the employees the desire of the board that the workers should take a greater interest than hitherto in the business of the Society. He pointed out that it was with this object that the payment of bonus had been started. Since the commencement of the bonus payments large sums had been paid to the employees, but many Co-operators believed that this was only the first step in profit sharing. He suggested that a full and free discussion take place, promising that if the employees agreed to form a society with the object of becoming shareholders in the Federation, the board would do all in their power to have the rules altered so that this could be done. After the proposal had been fully discussed, it was agreed to by a large majority of those present, 61 voting for a motion that the employees leave not less than one-fourth of the bonus received for investment in the shares of the Society, and 17 for an amendment that they do not agree to leave any of the bonus. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs M‘Culloch, Glasse, and M‘Intosh from the board, and of Messrs Clubb, M‘Allister, and Miller from the employees, was appointed to prepare a scheme for submission to the members at a general meeting.