Page 154 - 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.
intelligence, and to increase their welfare and happiness; and, in stating this
opinion, he feels very strongly that such praiseworthy efforts are deserving of
the highest commendation and encouragement. He wishes your Society,
therefore, every success, and he sincerely trusts it will continue to increase in
prosperity in the same proportion as heretofore. I am desired, in conclusion, to
add that the Prince would be very glad if, from time to time, you would be so
good as to acquaint him with the state of the federation, and to inform him of
the progress which you are making.
The diligent co-operators who thus stood before princes were not
unduly elated, but a few private merchants grew very angry, and
at once sought to acquaint Queen, Prince, and people with the true
state of affairs.
We may now turn to the substantial developments of the period.
In 1881 a movement arose for a branch of the Wholesale Society in
Yorkshire. A conference of 115 delegates from 51 societies met
at Wakefield on July 30th of that year. By a vote of 69 to 42,
they asked for a Yorkshire branch. Put before the societies by
the General Committee, the proposal was negatived on February 11 th,
1882, by a large majority of their delegates. It was reported,
however, in June, 1882, that for tliree years previously a C.W.S.
representative had been attending at Leeds at first weekly and
afterwards fortnightly, and meeting an average number of six
buyers. Similar visits to Huddersfield had ceased, only three
buyers responding to the invitation. Later in the year—in
October—the Committee took the intermediate step of opening
a saleroom in Leeds at 70, WeUington Street, ninety-three buyers
and delegates from forty-two societies joining in the initial
proceedings. The Leeds Saleroom still flourishes, but it is now
estabhshed at Call Lane, in the Yorkshire city, Mr. Joseph Holden,
the pre;sent grocery sundries buyer at Balloon Street, was in charge
of it for many 3'ears, and to-day Mr. Wm. Pollard holds that
post. Chiefly because of the Yorkshire societies, a forwarding
depot had already been opened at Groole. A Copenhagen depot
was established in 1881, and a similar purchasing and exporting
centre at Hamburg in 1884. The Copenhagen Depot emphasised
the new and growing preference for Danish and Swedish butters
over Irish. Continental flour ^ at that time also was largely
purchased by the Wholesale Society. NaturaUy this did not please
the societies mterested in the English federal com miUs, although
Mitchell explained that the C.W.S. could not otherwise satisfy
certain constituents.
^ See Chapter XXI.
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