There is nothing new under the sun. During the war period it has been common knowledge that the U.C.B.S. was responsible for keeping down the price of bread when the other master bakers desired to raise it. This was not an entirely new role for the Society to play, however. In 1880 it was successful in forcing the bakers of Glasgow to reduce the price of bread within a fortnight after having raised it, because of the Society’s refusal to raise the price also.
THE OAKMILL INVESTMENT.
The members of the committee had been somewhat chary about investing any money in the Oakmill Society, although it was finally decreed by the quarterly general meeting of the Society that this should be done. For some time there had been reports that all was not well with this society, and more than once questions had been asked in the Baking Society’s general meetings on the subject. At length matters were coming to a crisis, however, and a circular was issued to the societies by the S.C.W.S. in which that society wished to be informed how much they were prepared to give to Oakmill Society on loan. The Baking Society’s committee replied that they could do nothing until they had consulted the general meeting of members. The circular had been issued in June, and in August the committee decided to withdraw the amount of interest on their loan to Oakmill Society which had been allowed to accumulate, and now amounted to £47. At this meeting it was also decided that the question of a further loan be not brought before the quarterly meeting. Shortly afterwards the society went into liquidation, and when the final settlement was made the Baking Society found that they had lost £122, 11s. 8d. This sum was liquidated by being paid from the reserve fund.
In 1882 a disaster befell Barrhead Society, their bakery being burned down, and during the time it was being rebuilt they got their bread from the U.C.B.S. This meant an immediate increase of twenty sacks per week in the turnover, which was of importance at the time; but what was of still more importance, it served to lessen the breach which had opened between the Federation and the society and paved the way for the return of the society to the fold at a later date.
During the earlier years of the Society’s history the mention of letters in “red ink,” sent as reminders to societies that their indebtedness to the Federation was exceeding reasonable limits, was frequent in the minutes, but in these later years such “red ink” circulars do not seem to have been sent. At anyrate, mention of them no longer appears. This did not mean, unfortunately, that all the societies were now sufficiently alive to the need of paying their debts promptly and that they had the cash at hand wherewith to pay them. The position of some of the societies was still a matter of grave concern to the Baking Society’s committee, and in one or two cases societies went into liquidation. One such society was Allander, which had only joined the Federation in 1881, and which went into liquidation towards the end of 1883. From this society they got one shilling in the pound. Another case was that of Petershill Society, which went into liquidation early in the same year and which had paid its debt to the Baking Society in full.
At one time there was trouble with Kinning Park Society of a peculiar kind. The committee of that society sent a letter to the Baking Society’s committee, in which it was stated that the impression in that society was “That if a situation is wanted in the Bakery, the most effective way to secure it is to denounce Co-operation, and the Kinning Park Society in particular.” The board, in discussing this letter, expressed the opinion that it was a matter with which they had nothing to do. It was no business of theirs where their employees did or did not purchase their goods. This sound business rule is one which is still in operation in all well-regulated societies. At the same time, it must be admitted that when a man is working for a principle as well as for a livelihood, his work is likely to be better done. There are still workers in the movement, however, who, while professing to work for it, treat it worse than they would be allowed to treat a private employer, by denying it the efficient, loyal, and painstaking service which they would be compelled to render for wages alone. No more was heard of Kinning Park complaint. The terms of the letter were probably an exaggeration of whatever grievance there was.
FURTHER EXTENSIONS.
For some years the fluctuations in the trade of the Society had been such that further extensions had been unnecessary, but, by the end of 1882, the congestion had become so great that it was necessary that further baking accommodation should be procured at an early date. This raised a debate as to the respective merits of increasing the oven accommodation at St James Street or putting down a branch bakery at Greenock to supply the societies in that area. The societies in the Greenock and Port-Glasgow area were all members of the Federation, but there were both difficulty and expense entailed in sending the bread from Glasgow, and, especially in winter, when there was fog on the river, there was occasionally irritating delay. The result of the debate was that a committee was appointed to consider the different schemes and report.
When the special committee reported on the various points which had been remitted to them to discuss there was considerable difference of opinion amongst the members of the Bakery board as to which was the best plan to adopt. Finally, on a vote being taken, it was agreed, by a majority, to recommend to the general meeting the erection of a branch bakery in Greenock. When the question came before the delegates at the quarterly meeting, however, the scheme for a branch in Greenock was not adopted, and it was decided to proceed with the erection of two additional ovens at St James Street.
In 1884, however, the trade was again outgrowing the accommodation, and in November of that year the committee decided to rent a bakehouse in Scotland Street in order to relieve the congestion. The membership of the Federation was again up to 26 societies, and the output at the end of 1884 was 281 sacks per week.