Page 105 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

The ^^ Wholesale ^^ *'Too Big/^
making ? Has the Wholesale put forth all its strength, and is now
capable of nothing more ? " At a Midland conference in Banl^ury,
his colleague, Mr. John Butcher, read a paper strongly urgino; upon
the Wholesale the manufacture of boots and shoes ; and a resolution
to the same end was carried by the delegates present. Yet there
was an opposition to be considered. It was argued that different
manufactures needed to be carried on in different localities, and
ought, therefore, to be instituted and managed locally. The now
familiar cry was raised of the Wholesale being too big and having too
many irons in the fire. William Marcroft again endangered his
reputation for long-headedness by advising the Wholesale entirely
to avoid production. The Society's then chairman, Mr. Crabtree,
was himself in favour of production by separate federations, the
Wholesale acting as agent only. Eventually he accepted the idea of
manufacturing, not as a principle, but merely as legitimate in the
few defined instances.
When the Committee took their courage in both hands they
elected to manufacture biscuits, sweets, tobacco, boots and shoes,
and possibly blankets. The question of flour-miUing had been
pressed forward by others besides the Newcastle Sub-Committee,
and a previous Quarterly Meeting had resolved upon an inquhy into
the possibility of taking over the existing federal corn mills; but
this had proved a ploughing of sand. Another and a brilliant
opportunity to commence production had been furnished by a
blacking manufacturer, who waited upon the Wholesale Committee
to offer his plant at £1,950, including £500 for goodwill. " Goodwill
it is a jewel," sang Edwin Waugh—in this instance a little too costly.
The field, therefore, narrowed down to the articles named by the
Committee, and not all these were approved. Tobacco provoked
objections. "If it did not poison people," said Dr. Rutherford,
" it sent them to sleep." At this meetmg the Wholesale had dealt
generously with Henry Pitman, paying off the balance of the debt
(over £400) which he had mcurred through the Co-operator, now
superseded by the Co-operative News, and Mr. Pitman's anti-
narcotic feelings were pleaded against tobacco. So the odious weed
was rejected. The remaining recommendations passed, biscuits
and sweets on the motion of Henry Whiley, boots and shoes as
moved by J. T. W. Mitchell.

For the purposes of the first-named branch of manufacture
the meeting had abeady decided to buy premises and plant lately
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