Page 203 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

Divisional Meetings.
federation also suffered from lack of interest in so remote an institu-
tion. A meeting was asked for at Long Eaton (Trent Junction) as
being the most central place. The C.W.S, Committee, however,
were in opposition. A Midland meeting meant expense; and the
new saleroom at Nottingham had not justified itself. If this demand
were met another would arise from Bristol, and so on ad infinitum
The battle was resumed at a Midland Sectional Conference, where
it was said that the journey to Manchester from Lincoln, out to the
meeting, and home afterwards occupied in all twenty-two hours.
Circumstances were on the side of the Midlanders. Strong
complaints had been made in 1885 of the crowded state of the
Manchester meetings, and the Pendleton Society had moved for
reducing the representation by one-half. At the end of 1 888 a special
committee was appointed to consider all these matters. Besides four
representatives of the General Committee Messrs. Greening and Neale
were appointed, and comparatively new names appeared in those
of Messrs. T. Tweddell, R. Tutt, A. Scotton, and F. Hardern. Mr. T.
Redfearn, of Heckmondwike, already prominent as an independent
and valued critic of C.W.S. rules and finances, however intricate,
also was elected. Five hundred delegates at the final Manchester
meeting spent three and a half hours on the report, early in 1890,
and then adjourned—to come together for a.nother three hours a
month later. To follow all the details discussed would be tedious
and unnecessary. Divisional meetings were almost unanimously
accepted; and, as a result, the first for the Midlands was held at
Long Eaton, and the first for the West at Bristol, on March 7th,
1891. Meetings at Cardiff and other centres followed. District
representation upon the Committee was rejected. The basis of
representation was not altered; the share capital was increased;
the General Committee was enlarged by an additional member from
each of the branches, but otherwise unaltered; and a number of
other necessary but small changes were effected. Everyone v/ho
has had experience in young and vigorous organisations knows what
exhaustless energy and minute attention can be given to such details,
and this is healthy. The strength of every institution depends upon
the willingness of its constituents to spend themselves in the mastery
of detail, when it is necessary. Om" suppositious poet would at least
respect, even if he were left uninspired; for poetry has its intricacies
of technique.
Notwithstanding the scale upon which the Wholesale Society
was operating at the time of " attaining its majority," the federation
167