Page 152 - 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.

C.W.S., but not without a subsequent inquisition. With the
extension of the institution, journeys and deputations increased,
and the expenses of the Committee mounted from 5|d. per £100 of
sales in 1864-5 to Is. 8d. in 1883. This, too, became a matter for
liot debate. Mr. Crabtree even came out as a " reform " candidate
for the board, pledged to prevent executive expenses growing
at such " a fearful rate." And in 1885 a special committee over-
hauled the whole question of fees, fares, and deputation expenses.
The still useful dining-room over the grocery warehouse in Balloon
Street was opened in May, 1882, and a quarterly account following
soon after of £239 for buyers' and other dinners provoked keen
criticism. Some were aghast to find that the Committee, while shy
of creating a smokeroom, yet were providing cigars and coffee, and
actually spending 15s. a month upon cigars ! Amidst the results
of this exaggerated mood was one to be regretted. Loth to see many
small distributive societies failing v/here success was deserved, the
Central Board produced a scheme for aiding local effort experimentally
in districts beyond the radius of successful societies. This being
submitted to the C.W.S. Committee, won their approval, and a
grant of £1,000 towards Avorking the scheme was recommended.
Only one vote went against the proposal in London, but Manchester
rejected it, and Newcastle was still more unfriendly. The whole
result gave 190 for and 184 against. With so small a majority the
Committee declined to act, and, for the time being, the door was
shut upon a possibility of the strong directly helping the weak.
However, the resolutions of these excessively cautious years
were not whoUy negative. To set against the decisions recorded
there was a willingness to make enlarged grants for friendly and
charitable purposes. Although not without opposition, different
sums of from £100 to £300 were devoted to relieving, through
co-operative societies, the want caused by various strikes and by
unemployment. Distress in Ireland received £200. Hospitals,
lifeboats, homes for the deaf and dumb, and other institutions
benefited. From the time of the Indian famine of 1877 funds
for the relief of special suffering were swelled by increasing
contributions. Among gifts of comradeship was one of £10 toward
the Trade Union Congress of 1882. When in 1883 Judge Hughes
announced his intention of retiring from the co-operative movement,
a fund was raised mainly to endow an Oxford scholarship in Hughes'
name, and £300 in all was given in recognition of a warm-hearted
friendship which, notwithstanding its candour, was none the less
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