Page 245 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

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The Three Printing Works.
factory) also grew up. As a result of careful inquiries, particularly in
Germany, electricity was introduced for driving as well as for lighting
purposes, the C.W.S. works being one of the first in England to
choose this power ; and it has had the pleasure of seeing its example
followed as a result of observations made by visitors to Longsiglit.
The printer's lot is not always a happy one. Rarely he can " make
for stock; " the calendar is perpetually at his elbow; and while
the calendar displays its dates but says nothing, the speaking parts
are more than filled by customers who nowadays may use the
telephone, the telegraph, and a post of&ce dehvering letters several
times a day. In short, he is the servant of many masters. But,
apart from the mmor excitements and adventures arising from such
circumstances, the printing works (under the continuous manage-
ment of Mx. George Brearley from its first starting near Balloon
Street with 12 workers in January, 1895, to the present day at
Longsight with 1,100 employees) has been happy in printing many
histories, but having none of a disturbing kmd itself. Extensions
have been the chief events. The first was made about three and a
half years after the commencement of work at Longsight in July,
1898; the second after a similar interval. These two bites have
eaten up all the space readily available for use, and the pressure of
ever-increasing work has since been met by new machinery,
re-arrangements, and a pohcy of devolution. The C.W.S. Pelaw
factories, opened in 1902, included a printing worlcs; while the
Cranbourne Street factory in Leicester, vacated by the hosiers as
described in a later chapter, has been used for printing and box
making. Both these works have been employed in relief of Long-
sight, as well as in their local trade. At Leicester the extensions
which were progressing in 1913 will double the capacity of the factory.
All three works since 1909 have been under the same general
management, and all are working on a 48-hour week. Since the works
has only once been upon short time, and that during the coal strike
of 1912, and since printers cannot escape overtime, the shorter week
virtually has meant an increase upon the trade union rate of wages.
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A few other printers practically all of them co-operative societies
have also adopted the 48 hours, but the general trade union week is
of 51.
While the C.W.S. at home was sinking shafts toward the sources
of suppty, it was also extending its communications over the surface of
the world. The Society's direct purchases from Denmark during the
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