History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd.

by William Reid

PURCHASE OF M‘NEIL STREET GROUND.

Three schemes were laid before the quarterly meeting, including the rebuilding of the St James Street premises, which, however, the directors deprecated. The proposals were discussed at length by the meeting, but no decision was arrived at, the question being remitted back to the committee for further consideration and inquiry. The questions which were remitted for consideration were: The cost of land in or near Glasgow, and the cost of erecting thereon a bakery large enough to meet the wants of all the members; or, alternatively, the cost of land in or near Paisley, and the cost of erecting a branch bakery there large enough to meet the demands for bread from the societies in the West.

There was evidently a desire to reopen the question of a branch in Paisley, which had been closed since the end of 1876, but the delegates to the special meeting which was held on 11th July to hear the report of the committee on the question of whether a new central bakery should be built or whether they should content themselves with a branch in or near Paisley, decided by an overwhelming majority in favour of a central bakery in Glasgow, and remitted to the committee the selection of a site.

The sub-committee went about their business of securing a site expeditiously, with the result that at the meeting which was held on 22nd August they were able to inform the committee of two sites, one in Fauld’s Park, Govan, the price of which was 12/6 per yard; and the other at M‘Neil Street, costing 15/6 per square yard. It was also intimated that the latter site had some buildings on it which might be of use to the Society. The members of the committee visited both sites, and after having inspected them came to the conclusion that the M‘Neil Street one was best suited to their purpose, and empowered the sub-committee to offer £4,000 for it, with power to go to £4,500 if necessary. At the meeting of committee which was held on 19th September it was intimated that the “Nursery Mills,” M‘Neil Street, had been bought for £4,500, that a deposit of £500 had been made, and that the keys had been given up to the Society. The property had been insured for £1,000. The engine and boiler in the building were inspected, and Messrs Bruce & Hay were instructed to prepare plans of a bakery containing twenty-four ovens, a travelling oven for biscuits, and three or four ovens for pastry, as well as van sheds, stabling, etc. On 13th October the committee empowered the officials to pay the full cost of the site and take possession of the title deeds. It was also decided to dispose of the boilers contained in the property, and at a later date, of the engines; the total sum received being £207, 10s.

When the plans for the new bakery were submitted to the committee decided disapproval was expressed, on the ground that the site was not being utilised to the best advantage, that the existing buildings were not being used, although they were worth from £1,200 to £1,300, and that provision was made in the plan for a courtyard out of all proportion to the requirements of the Society. It was decided to ask the architect to prepare other plans, and instructions were given that the buildings at present on the site were not to be interfered with, and that another architect was also to be asked to prepare plans, with the same instructions. At the same time it was agreed to sell the St James Street property for £4,500 if a sale could be effected, and if not that it be rented, the rent to be £300 per annum. For the next week or two the committee met weekly. On plans being submitted for the second time those of Messrs Bruce & Hay were adopted, with some alterations suggested by the committee, and a building committee was appointed to supervise the work of erecting the bakery. Some little difficulty was experienced, however, in getting the plans through the Dean of Guild Court. Objection was taken at the Court to the fact that the stable gangway was not fireproof, and the plans were sent back for alteration. Presumably all was in order at their next presentation, for nothing further appears in the minutes on the subject. An inspector of works was appointed for the job, contracts were fixed up, and the work commenced. The financing of the building scheme was also considered by the committee, and they agreed to appeal to the societies for the necessary money, at the same time recommending, as an inducement to the societies to subscribe, that the interest on the loan capital be increased from 4½ per cent. to 5 per cent. This recommendation was agreed to by the delegates to the quarterly meeting, and the committee were also empowered to reopen the private loan fund if they considered such a course advisable. One result of the decision of the quarterly meeting was that at the committee meeting held a fortnight later it was reported that already £2,080 had been received as loans from three societies—Thornliebank, Glasgow Eastern, and Kinning Park—while 150 additional shares had been allocated. At the same meeting the Secretary intimated an offer from Kilbarchan Court, A.O.F., offering £400 on loan. This kind offer the committee had to decline, however, on the ground that the loan fund was as yet only open to Co-operative societies.