Page 277 - 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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^'A Matter of Policy/'
by the C.W.S. in local societies' own " bonus " wrappers for sale at
enhanced prices. This unexpected development the Committee did
not welcome, and therefore they put the following resolution before
the delegates:
That in the opinion of this meeting the practice of soUing bonus tea is
anti-co-operative and inimical to the best interests of tlie movement, and we
pledge ourselves to further the policy pursued by the Committee to discourage
and, as soon as possible, to discontinue the trade.
This resolution met with hearty support. The practice had taken
root chiefly around Manchester, yet at the Manchester meeting only
a faint "no" replied to the "ayes." Elsewhere the vote was
unanimous. But it did not stay the demand. This continued, and
caused another battle to be fought on the question in December,
1906. The Eccles Society then brought forward a resolution,
reaffirming the decision of 1898. Victory this time was a little less
easy, smce the Manchester district societies only supported Eccles
by 101 votes to 96. Over the whole country, however, the vote
was against bonus tea by 1,326 votes to 98. But from the nature
of the co-operative movement it follows that questions of trade are
decided finally over its counters rather than in its meeting -halls, and
this democratic court of appeal was not of the same opinion. Hence
the selling of C.W.S. teas by societies under their own bonus
wrappers still continues. But the dealing in " bonus " teas bj'' a
proportion of the retail societies at least has this to be said for it,
that it is not conducted unfairly to the customer. Like one who
pays into a shop " club," with each packet of tea bought the stores'
customer puts something by on account of other wants in other
departments of the store, and the wrapper is her credit. She changes
a few coppers wittingly into a form of co-operative cm-rency
that is not otherwise negotiable, and therefore cannot be used
for any other than a household purchase. At the same time the
interest earned on the society's advance receipts goes to help
the general stores dividend. Thus, while one may regret the
peculiar needs which so complicate trading, a fair conduct of the
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business itself has proved possible. The question of bonus tea,"
^vrote the veteran co-operator, Mr. Noah Briggs, in the Co-operative
News, " is a matter of policy rather than of morals,"—a conclusion
well illustrated by an announcement taken from the local
Wheatsheaf pages of a Lancashire society for February, 1913.
The paragraph is headed " Bonus Tea Checks," and runs:
These may be obtained when purchasing tea, and are to the value of lOd.
for each lib. purchased. The method is clear and above board, without the
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