The distress in Glasgow and the West was very great, and at the December quarterly meeting of the Society the committee were empowered to distribute 20 dozens of bread each week in the manner they considered best calculated to alleviate distress. This distribution was carried on for twenty-six or twenty-seven weeks, the Society distributing free in that time over 500 dozens of bread. When the following winter came round it soon became apparent that conditions were not going to be any better than they had been in the one preceding, so the committee again received permission from the general meeting of delegates to distribute bread on the same lines as on the previous occasion.
The summer of 1894 is still remembered in Scotland as the year of the big coal strike. There is this peculiarity about the economic position in the Central and Western districts of Scotland that, when from any cause there is a slackness in the coal trade, that slackness soon manifests itself also in the whole commercial life of the community. The strike of 1894 had the effect of paralysing industry all over the country, and soon distress was manifest, not only in the coal mining districts, but in every industry which was dependent on coal for motive power. By the beginning of August distress was widespread, and appeals to the Baking Society for assistance in feeding the wives and children of the strikers and of others in distress through the strike resulted in a special meeting of the committee being called to deal with the matter. At that meeting it was decided that the committee revive the powers granted them earlier for the purpose of dealing with distress. In the course of carrying out this noble work the Federation distributed several thousands of dozens of loaves.
The effect of this good work on the movement, and on the Federation in particular, was doubtless not apparent at the moment, but the growth of the spirit of brotherhood which it fostered must have had its influence in strengthening the position of Co-operation generally and thus, indirectly, the position of the Federation. The Federation cast its bread upon the waters, as the result of an impulse which was purely humanitarian, and any results of a commercial nature which accrued in later years were unsought and but a reflex result of a policy which in its impulse was entirely worthy and without ulterior motive.
A WORK’S FIRE BRIGADE.
Towards the end of 1892 a work’s fire brigade was started; a large supply of hose was procured, and after a short period of training uniforms were procured by the committee. The committee took a keen interest in the proposal to hold a bazaar in aid of the fund for providing a Co-operative seaside home for convalescents. When the ladies of the movement first met to consider plans for the bazaar they were the guests of the Society; representatives of the Society attended the meetings held to make preparations for the bazaar; the purvey department undertook the catering during the three days it lasted, and the profits accruing from the sales, amounting to over £17, were handed over to the Bazaar Committee. On several occasions requests by the vanmen for a full six days’ holiday every year had been refused by the committee; but in the beginning of 1893 the question was again considered, and it was agreed that the bakers, vanmen, and breadroom workers each get five days of continuous holiday instead of three.
During the whole of the period from the beginning of 1892 until well on in 1894 the time of the committee was much occupied with matters connected with the extensions which were going on. Although the addition at the north end of M‘Neil Street was finished and occupied early in 1893, the work in connection with the new stables and the fitting up of the biscuit factory called for constant attention on the part of the committee, and every minute contains details of contracts entered into or being carried out; while, in addition to the work which was being done by contract, the Society had bricklayers, painters, and a plumber working under their direct employment. A building department had not yet been formed, but the Society was gathering together the nucleus of this department which took shape and being at a later date.
CONTINUOUS GROWTH.
When the new buildings at M‘Neil Street were commenced the private loan fund was again opened, but now money was coming in so rapidly with the continuous growth which was taking place in the membership of societies that the committee recommended again that this fund should cease. How continuous and great was the increase in the share capital of the Society is shown by the fact that on one occasion the new shares issued in the months of June and July totalled 1,320; while, on other occasions, shares were applied for by single societies in batches of 600, 800, and 1,000. When the first M‘Neil Street premises were opened in 1887, the Federation consisted of thirty-six societies, and was doing a trade of slightly over 400 sacks a week. At the majority celebrations in 1890 the number of society members had grown to forty-three, and the turnover was 715 sacks weekly. Now at the end of another four years the membership had grown to fifty-two, and the turnover to 1,254 sacks. Thus, when the Society had attained its semi-jubilee, it was doing a trade of £137,500 a year, and making a profit of £11,600; while the output of the twenty-fifth year was 64,308 sacks, and the average dividend for the year was 1/(4½).
Undoubtedly the progress made from the opening of the new bakery had been little short of marvellous; yet, good though it was, it did not satisfy the committee, for there were still societies within easy reach of the bakery which gave a large proportion of their trade to outside bakers, and at least one was yet without the pale altogether. On the other hand, one society distant over 100 miles from the centre was getting a regular supply of bread, although this was soon to stop when the society began to bake for themselves. Difficulties of delivery still existed, and seemed to form the ground for a large number of the complaints which were made by societies. A further proportion of such complaints dealt with the prevalence of underbaked bread, which was but another phase of the delivery difficulty, as the bread was too quickly fired in order that the vans might get away on their rounds at the earliest possible moment. These difficulties it was hardly possible for the committee to overcome successfully, for the situation was dominated by the Bakers’ Union, who for a time decreed a five o’clock start. After a time, however, the Society was successful in arranging for a four o’clock start, and just before the conclusion of the period with which we are dealing a three o’clock start was arranged for. This arrangement made for the lessening of worry to the Bakery officials by allowing the bread to be well baked and yet to be ready for early delivery; but it meant for the bakers the turning of night into day. In this connection it is worthy of note that in the last four months of 1893, after the new hours for the bakers came into operation, no complaints whatever came in from societies.
Mention has already been made of the cake trade and of the beginning of the cake shows in order to foster that trade. It was growing rapidly, and the sales for the season 1893–94 reached the grand total of 32½ tons, representing 14,533 cakes of 5 lbs. each in weight, and 4½ tons of shortbread. The tearooms and the purvey department also were flourishing, and were showing useful profits on the turnover. It is said that there is nothing new under the sun, and everyday experience goes to prove the wisdom of the Hebrew philosopher who is credited with having been the first to note the fact. At the quarterly meeting which was held in December 1893 notice was given of a motion to print synopses of the minutes and distribute them to the societies before the quarterly meetings. The motion was defeated, but it kept on making its appearance on the agenda with unfailing regularity until a few years ago it found favour with a majority of the delegates. Another motion of which notice was given at the same meeting, and which found a great deal of favour with the delegates when it came up for ratification at the 100th quarterly meeting, was a proposal made by Mr William Barclay, Kinning Park, on behalf of that society, that the shares of the Society should be raised from 10/ to 15/ each. The motion received the votes of a majority of the delegates, but as it meant an alteration of rule a two-thirds majority was necessary, and so it too was lost, as was also a proposal for raising the purchase qualification for a vote from £160 or a fractional part thereof to £320. At the quarterly meeting, however, perhaps the most notable thing done was the election of Mr James Bain, of Glasgow Eastern Society, as secretary. Mr Bain thus completed twenty-five years of service as secretary at the 200th quarterly meeting of the Society, held in March last. Mr Bain had served, however, a period as the representative of his society on the board of the Federation ere his election as secretary.