When the scheme was brought forward again at the September meeting of the Society one of the amendments sent in was from St George Society, and called for the rejection of the scheme in its entirety. The motion to reject the scheme was seconded by a representative of the employees, who referred to the “autocratic” methods of the directors in adopting this scheme and bringing it forward without consulting the workers. The result was that the scheme was disapproved. The scheme which was brought forward by the S.C.W.S. for the superannuation of their employees suffered the same fate.
THE INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE CONGRESS.
It was as the result of an invitation which came from the Scottish National Co-operative Conference, held in Kilmarnock in 1910, that the International Co-operative Congress held in Hamburg in the autumn of that year decided to come to Glasgow for the 1913 Congress rather than go to Vienna, the claims of which city were strongly urged by Dr Beno Karpeles, in opposition to the claims of Glasgow, as set forth by Mr James Deans.
The year 1913 was a big year for Scottish Co-operators, for not only had they to entertain the International Congress in the autumn, but Scotland was also the location of the British Congress in the summer, and pessimists were not wanting who thought that the Co-operators of Scotland had undertaken a task which was too heavy for them when they decided to entertain two so great Congresses as the British and the International in one year. Events proved that the pessimists were wrong, however. One of the first duties which fell to the lot of the committee which was appointed to make preparations for the International Congress was that of finding a suitable house for it, but they did not require to look far afield. The U.C.B.S. were the owners of the best hall in the city for the purpose for which it was required. In St Mungo Hall there was ample accommodation for the Congress itself, while in the adjoining halls ample space for dining the delegates could be provided. The Bakery was just across the street, and cooking and waiting facilities were all that could be desired. So it was decided that in St Mungo Hall the Congress should be held.
The U.C.B.S. undertook all the work of catering for the delegates at luncheon each day. They also undertook the provision of the luncheon which was given by the reception committee on the Saturday, and they themselves provided the entertainment for one of the afternoons of Congress. It was universally acknowledged that the International Congress of 1913 was the best International Co-operative Congress held, and to this happy result the U.C.B.S. contributed no small share. The event was one which will not readily be forgotten by those privileged to take part. Alas, that the expressions of fraternity so freely uttered then should have been so soon made of no avail by the outbreak of war.
THE HOLIDAY CAMP.
It is to Mr John Dewar, for many years president of the Renfrewshire Co-operative Conference Association, that the idea of a Co-operative holiday camp owes its origin. For many years Mr Dewar was an enthusiastic Volunteer, and his experiences under canvas during the annual training periods of his regiment impressed him with the value of this form of holiday. Associated with him in his propaganda for a camping association on Co-operative lines was Mr James Lucas, at that time president of the Glasgow and Suburbs Conference Association, and latterly, also, Mr John Paton, of the Renfrewshire Conference council, who had been converted to the idea as the result of a visit to Douglas, I.O.M., where he had seen the huge city under canvas which for a number of years housed thousands of holiday-making Lancashire lads every summer.
By 1910 these gentlemen had been able to get their organisation so far advanced that they had selected a site on the Ayrshire Coast for their first camp, and had made arrangements with the farmer who rented the land. At the last moment, however, the landowner stepped in and vetoed the whole proceedings. This put an end to doing anything further with regard to a camp during that year, but the search for a suitable site continued and, at length, the little farm of Roseland, situated on Canada Hill, Rothesay, overlooking the Bay, was secured. The farm was for sale, but the committee in charge of the arrangements considered that purchase was too bold an initial step to take, so they leased the farm for six months; securing an option to purchase at the end of that period if they wished.
Here, in the summer of 1911, the first Scottish Co-operative holiday camp was established. It was rather a primitive affair, that first camp. The cooking was done in the little farmhouse, while the campers had their meals in a large marquee. The U.C.B.S. directors took a keen interest in the camp from the very beginning. The catering was done by them, and the catering staff were housed in the little farmhouse.
Primitive though the arrangements were, they appealed to the campers, who were unanimous in their praise of the beautiful situation, the pure air, the perfect catering, and the small outlay for which they secured a perfect holiday. Thus encouraged, the committee which had promoted the camp proceeded to organise a Co-operative society to work it, and in this Co-operative society the U.C.B.S. took out twenty-five shares. The farm was purchased for £600, and in September the Baking Society increased the number of their shares to 100.