Page 174 - 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.
As most people know, Mr. Adamson's expectations of a 15 per
cent div idend have not in the least been realised, but the failure has
chiefly been due to a reduction of rates on account of the canal,
and from these reductions the C.W.S. in its trading departments
still benefits in direct and particular instances. Meanwhile, the
shares have been depreciated out of existence. Incidentally we
may remark upon the object-lesson which the canal presents for
co-operators. The irrationality of the economic system which
co-operation challenges must be great indeed when a vast trading
community is driven to set up an artificial port in competition with a
natural one in order to preserve its own position. Indeed, the whole
carrying industry is one such lesson. Organised co-operatively in
the interests of the nation, it should be simplicity itself. Organised
in private interests it presents complexity within complexity, and
almost bottomless depths of rates and rebates, together with the
certainty for the consumer that ultimately he must pay for all the
duplication and waste, and, on the side of labour, a dismal record of
low wages, long hours, hard conditions, and bitter disputes. In a
better ordered state surely such a canal would be as unnecessary as
now it would be for Sheffield to open a way to the Huniber, and
commence the building of warships, in order to get fair pla}'^ against
naval owners for its warlike industries.
A " business opening " of the canal on January 1st, 1894, marked
the completion, against time, of a long, difficult, and costly
enterprise. Anticipating the honour of being the first merchant vessel
to come up to Manchester from oversea, the Pioneer lay at Irlam
overnight. In the morning she was joined by a representative
party of C.W.S. Directors and officials, and, notwithstanding the
competition for " historic firsts," did achieve for the Society the
distinction coveted. Moreover, she was the first steamship to
unload cargo in Manchester, and the first vessel to be registered as
belonging to the new port.^ The C.W.S. boat evoked the cheers
of a great number of co-operators amongst the crowds lining the
banks; while at the Mode Wheel Locks the Mayor of Salford, with
others, came on board to exchange congratulations. The actual
cargo disembarked on the instant of the steamer being made fast
consisted of cube sugar from Rouen, the first case being wheeled off
by Mr. Mitchell, and the second by Mr. Tweedale, the then C.W.S.
' These facts have beeu verified after siftins: the confliotiDg accounts of eye-
wil nesses, lay <and professional. Further, the claim was made by the Society in a
letter to the ManchesUr City News of January Gth, 1894, and was not afterwai'ds
disputed.
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