Page 108 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

The Story of the C.W.S. ;
instances, were the sweaters on a small scale of boy labour, and who
were true to the well-known Bohemian custom of never doing to-day
what can be put oif till to-morrow. Nor did the craftsmanship atone
indeed, the artistic spirit that laments the monotony of factory
industry would find Uttle comfort in authentic accounts of those
conditions of home bootmaking which it replaced. These factors
especially affected a young business which had many timid sample
orders to execute, and constitutionally was compelled to obhge
every society with " specials." Yet the business steadily went
forward. A smart day's work in December, 1874, saved the factory
from being sold over the Society's head by securing it for £1,350.
An adjoining piece of land was purchased in the following year, and
1876 witnessed extensions in progress. On August 4th of the latter
year a numerous party of delegates joined with the employees to
celebrate the enlargement. " The tea-party and meeting (says an
official record) was well attended, the whole of the workpeople taking
a great interest in the proceedings." In the following December
the Committee reported that the works were capable of producing
7,000 to 8,000 pairs per week, and that " £6,014 in wages have been
paid to a weekly average of 420 hands." Profits were being realised
quarter by quarter. The Scottish Wholesale already was
associating with the elder federation for buying purposes, and a
considerable measure of support for the Leicester Works now came
from Glasgow.

The third and last entry into production during these years was
through the Durham Soap Works. In the Newcastle district it is still
told how a certain quarterly delegate, now a member of the C.W.S.
Committee, squeezed in his hand a cake of watery soap, and then
flung the baU on to the platform, asking whether when such stuff
was sold it was not time they made their own. Like Burke's dagger
in the House of Commons, the action had a dramatic effect. This
"
incident may or may not have had relation to a deputation from
Chester-le-Street and Blaydon Societies," which visited Manchester,
and desired the C.W.S. Committee to purchase a soap works having a
capacity of ten to fifteen tons weekly close to the railway goods
station in Durham. Nearly seven hundred square yards of freehold
with properties, plant, and macliinery in working order were to be
had at a price which ultimately came down to £3,000. After
inquiries on the spot by members of the Newcastle and Manchester
Committees, the delegates assembled on September 20th, 1874,
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