STILL FURTHER EXTENSIONS.
The bread trade of the Society also continued to increase at an extraordinary rate. So much so that, by the beginning of 1891, nine months after the opening of the last addition to the bakery, the trade was within fourteen sacks of the full output capacity of 1,000 sacks per week. The directors saw that some steps must be taken at once to increase baking capacity, and applied to the quarterly meeting for power to take over or to sell St James Street property, and at the same time for power to acquire land for the purpose of extending the bakery. Power in both directions was granted, although a director of the Wholesale Society, acting, he stated, on the authority of his board, moved that power be not granted. Evidently, however, this gentleman had misunderstood the attitude of the Wholesale Society’s directors, for subsequently a letter was received from the secretary of that federation, in which it was stated that they had given no instructions to oppose the extension of the Baking Society’s premises, and that, in fact, they were in favour of this course being taken.
St James Street premises were offered for sale at £3,960, and again at £3,600, but there were no offerers. Ultimately, however, they were disposed of for £3,100.
The intention of the committee was to purchase the block of ground adjoining the bakery at the corner of Govan Street and South York Street, but as they considered that the price which was being asked was too great, it was decided to proceed with the erection of an addition at the north end of the present property in M‘Neil Street. The plans of the extension, when completed, showed provision for twenty-seven ovens additional, which would allow a trade of 1,650 sacks per week to be done. At the same time, steps were taken to add another flat to the stables, and to remove the office to the first flat of the biscuit factory.