Page 180 - 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.

summoned a conference; this time to discuss the offer of another
estate (near Doncaster) and a proposal to test it for coal. At this
meeting, with only two delegates in favour of referring the business
to the C.W.S. , a resolution was carried asking the North-Western
societies to guarantee the amount required for boring.
Such activities had the effect, if not of proving coalfields, at
any rate of penetrating the indifference of co-operators to
combined action. Largely-attended conferences were held—one
at Birmingham in 1901, and another at Manchester in the following
November. Remembering the siren notes of the Bugle Horn,
the C.W.S. Committee did not mean to run, but they were very
willing that the co-operative movement should circumspectly walk.
" Tlie supplying of coal," said Mr. Shillito at Birmingham in August,
1901, " was entirely different from the supplying of sugar, of tea,
of boots, and similar articles. The mines were situated in different
directions. Tlie usual policy of owners would have to be fought
against. The question of local agents constituted a very serious
difficulty. But all these might be overcome by a settled and
joint policy." At Manchester, according to the Co-operative News,
the delegates met at the invitation of the societies of the district,
" to see if anything could be done to relieve co-operators in several
parts of Lancashire from the high coal prices." Mr. Pollitt, of
Eccles, opened the discussion. The mines discussed by the
Yorkshire co-operators, he said, amidst approval, would be too far
away for the societies represented at this meeting. Lancashire might
form its own federation or refer the entire business to the C.W.S.,
and he preferred the latter course. " The difficulties now," said
Mr. Thorpe, "were not so much with colliery proprietors as with
individual co-operative societies. Were these overcome, the rest
Mould be easy to master." " They had already arranged reasonable
terms with a number of colliery-owners," added Mr. Moorhouse,
in corroboration, and the question was whether societies would
encourage the C.W.S. to obtain still better conditions.
Tlie Manchester conference was adjourned. Resolutions already
were reaching the Wholesale Society asking the delegates to the
December Quarterly Meeting to advise an inquiry into coal mining
possibilities. The chief of these came from a number of Yorkshire
societies. It required that the C.W.S. Committee seriously should
consider " the advisability of purchasing a suitable estate," and of
sinking shafts on it for the benefit of the movement. This
resolution the Committee adopted with the goodwill of the delegates.
1^