Page 162 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

CHAPTER XV.
The Story of the Shipping Department.

An Old Ideal—A Beginning at Goole—The East Coast Trade—Garston and
Rouen—The Manchester Ship Canal—Seamen and Passengers—Years
1874-1912.
A MEMBER of the committee of the Keyham Co-operative
Society, James Pound by name, described in the Co-operalor
as the " leading man amongst the riggers in her Majesty's dockyard
at Devonport," wrote to Wilham Cooper, of Rochdale, in 1863,
informing him of co-operative activity in Devonport since the year
1815. This early co-operation began with flour milling by the Union
Mill Society. Walt Whitman was not more sure than the Devon-
port co-operators of " the amplitude of time; " for, said Mr. Pound,
" we have the mills at Ivybridge for 1,000 years." In 1835 they
extended their work by forming the Devonport Coal Association.
Ten years later this consumer's movement had become strong
enough to enter upon what proved to be an unfortunate course.
" In 1845," wrote Mr. Pound, " we purchased two schooners of
200 tons burthen, to bring us our coal, whence arose the worse mishap
that ever befel the society. We had to deal with roguish captains
who took bribes. In 1850 one of the schooners was lost in the Bristol
Channel, and only two out of a crew of seven were saved. With
the money that we borrowed to purchase her, and the cargo of coals,
we sank £2,300, besides owing the bank at that time £700 on the
faith of the society ; but the bank never refused us credit. . . .
In five years we paid off all that debt." Replying from the Rochdale
Pioneers' store, Wilham Cooper observed, " Yours seems a more
risky business than our ordinary co-operative stores, as we have no
sailing craft. Where there is risk a reserve fund should be created
or insurances effected to cover possible losses; and perhaps the
instance of the loss of your society's schooner may be useful to the
Wholesale Society, as no doubt if the Society prospers, sailing vessels
will be employed or owned by the Society, to bring foreign produce
across the seas."
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