RAILWAYMEN’S CONGRESS ENTERTAINED.
In October of 1908 the annual Congress of the Amalgamated Society of Railway servants was held in Glasgow, and, on the Monday night of the week in which the Congress was held, the delegates were the guests of the U.C.B.S., the whole suite of the St Mungo Halls being placed at their disposal. The guests were welcomed by Mr Gerrard in name of the Society. He said the railwaymen all over the country were a tower of strength to the Co-operative movement, and in every town which was a railway centre there also they would find a strong, well-managed Co-operative society.
In 1909 the price of flour took an upward tendency, but at the time the movement began the U.C.B.S. were well prepared to meet it as they had a stock of 75,000 sacks in hand; sufficient to carry them on for four months. Later in that year the directors had a conference with the directors of the Wholesale Society, as they were dissatisfied with the quality of the flour they were getting from Regent mill. The result of the conference was that they agreed to try Chancelot flour for a time. New trading terms were also arranged with the S.C.W.S. for the sale of biscuits. This year’s sales of cakes and other Christmas and New Year goods were considered very satisfactory, 68¼ tons of large cakes being sold. During the period of cake distribution what was considered a record run was made by one of the Society’s motors; 140 miles being covered in fifteen hours, and goods delivered on the route.