Page 163 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

Ideals and Realities

This correspondence, appearing in the Co-operator for October,
18G3, when the entire substance of the C.W.S. consisted of a
Committee, a registered book of rules, and a httle money in hand,
indicates shipowning as being, emphatically, among the old ideals.
Indeed, as we have seen, ships floated upon the mental horizon of
Jumbo Farm ; while both earher and later few enthusiasts neglected
to picture laden vessels, under fair winds, on smooth seas, as a part
of the scheme of wholesale supply. Where to find cargoes for the
outward voyages did not trouble their minds; or, if the question
arose, it was sufficient vaguely to mention co-operative production
and export in general. Actually there was nothing in sight to
balance the imports suitable for carriage by a limited service of
small vessels. Yet, if oversea carrying is to be done co-operatively,
and not as a matter of speculative trade, it is essential to have a
steady supply of goods for co-operators on both shores needing
transit in bulk. Now the store movement on the Continent is rapidly
growing, and finding national organisation tlirough co-operative
wholesale societies, but it has not yet reached the point of inter-
national exchange. And, even then, those English railways
which are in possession of their own boats, and sometimes of their
own docks, enabling them to offer special through rates, will also
enter into the problem. Hence the story of the C.W.S. shipping
department is that of a conflict between ideals of co-operative steam-
ships and international fraternity, backed by the sohd advantages
of combination, and the opposing realities of competitive rates,
quicker routes, diversions of traffic to ports not convenient for
C.W.S. boats, and superior bids for outward freights.
Matter-of-fact reasons led the C.W.S. into realising the idea of
shipowning. In 1874 the Grocery Sub-Committee were concerned
about the rates between the Continent and the Humber ports, and
efforts were made which resulted in reduced charges upon freights
from Paris and Holland. Two years later a further step was
announced. The Quarterly Meetings of June 17th, 1876, were
informed that the Committee had agreed to purchase the s.s. Plover,
previously the property of a Goole shipowner, who had employed
the vessel chiefly for the traffic of the C.W.S. The owner had wished
to sell the boat because it was too small for profitable working, and
at least one member of the Committee felt this as an objection to
buying it. But he was persuaded that a larger boat, demanding
more traffic from outside the C.W.S. to complete her cargoes,
would bring the Society into competition with shipowners, and
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