As showing the power and influence to which the Federation had attained by this time, we cannot do better than quote from an article which appeared in Copartnership for June 1897. After describing the beginnings of the Society, the writer goes on:—
“But the day of small things is past; the society has grown into one of the largest as well as one of the most important in the movement. The trade last year—1896—was £220,536; but in case that sum should not convey a definite notion of the work involved it should be remembered that the U.C.B.S. carries on the largest business of its kind in the United Kingdom. At present 340 sacks of flour are baked into 65,300 loaves every day, while 25 sacks are made into pastry and hand-made biscuits, 20 sacks into machine-made biscuits, and the oatcake department requires 13 sacks daily; practically 400 sacks of flour and meal daily; a great growth from the early days when it was difficult for the committee to keep with them the baker they employed, who had no faith in the society’s future.
The biscuits and cakes are sold not only in Glasgow and all over Scotland, but are now finding their way into England, and winning favour. These goods, of course, go by rail, but it will readily be understood that the bulkiest part of the trade, bread for use in the co-operative households in and around Glasgow, requires a large staff and rolling stock; and, as a matter of fact, the delivery department employs 62 carmen, dealing with 71 vehicles and 107 horses.
A great capital is needed to carry on so large a business, and the extent of the capital is shown in the following figures:—
| Capital. | Societies. | Workers. | Outside Individuals. |
| Shares | £37,907 | £2,900 | Nil. |
| Loans | 79,114 | 580 | £10,728 |
| £117,021 | £3,480 | £10,728 | |
| Total | £131,229.” |
The article goes on to state that the total number of employees was 829, 77 of these being employed in the building department, while 275 were members of the Bonus Investment Society. It concludes:—
“Some organisations are mere aggregations without either heart or mind. The parts mistakenly believe that they can evade as organisations duties that belong to them as individuals. But the problem before co-operators allows no such evasion. They have to set up, not only good businesses in sanitary buildings, but also a new industrial system, where labourers are recognised as human beings entitled to share in the results and direction of their own lives. Because the leaders of the United Baking Society have recognised this, and have not allowed prosperity to poison aspiration, all men will wish them well, and we may say with an inner meaning to the words that we hope in time great multitudes may eat their bread and be thankful.”
BELFAST ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Top Row—ALEXANDER PATTERSON; JOHN PALMER; DAVID T. GILCHRIST.
Bottom Row—JAMES MURPHY; WILLIAM J. M‘GUFFIN, Chairman; ROBERT RODGER, Secretary.
