Page 244 - 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.

At the branch and divisional meetings of June, 1892, the voting
was 396 in favour of the Committee's recommendation, and only
35 against. But the Manchester district in this instance failed to
lend the Committee its usual support. It secured a further adjourn-
ment to September, and again to December. Tiie Oldham
Industrial Society tabled an amendment that the Wholesale Society
" be permitted to commence the printing and stationery business
" "
on their own account only." Oldham," said Mitchell, is in
favour of the Wholesale domg its oAvn printing for the establishment.
I cannot understand the difference. How can we distinguish
between the Wliolesale and its proprietors ? I cannot see any
difference between the two. If you separate the proprietors from the
"
Wliolesale what is there left ? Since a minority of the proprietors,
however, as members of the Printing Society, were receiving
assured profits arismg from work common to a majority outside
that society, and since private shareholders in the latter were
interested with them, the issue resolved itself into a trial of strength
between these two forces. The branch and divisional meetings,
which had been so solid for the Committee in June, were barely in
favour in September, with 198 votes to 193. The Midlands and
Cumberland, which previously had been unanimous, almost entirely
went over to the other side. Although the Newcastle and London
meetings gave good majorities, only the West and South Wales
really stood firm. At Manchester, where the case for the C.W.S.
had been powerfully stated by Messrs. ShUlito and Hibbert, the vote
actually was adverse—301 against 265. The Oldham motion,
however, was carried by 270 to 220. But Lancashire and Yorlcshire,
that so often had overborne the remoter provinces of the federation,
now had to yield to the country, which as a whole was for the
Committee by 511 to 434.
While intending to commence with printing of a minor kind, the
C.W.S. Committee made no secret of loolcing toward an ultimate
expansion. This came after three and a half years' occupation of
premises which have since made way for headquarters extensions.
Land at Longsight had come into C.W.S. possession through the
failure of the Union Land and Building Company, and here a works
was built upon a scale which at the time seemed absurdly large.
Indeed, the land left over and to spare was confidently sold—too
confidently, it since has proved. Lithography was added to letterpress
printing and the manufacture of stationery ; and a boxmaldng depart-
ment (which has since become equal in size to many an independent
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