Page 316 - 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.

Counsel: The only object of putting it in is this, that it accentiiates wliat
we suggest is the true reason.
The Judge : Then do not accentuate it.
Counsel: We think it is important to our interests to do so.
The Judge: Vorj^ well. It is not in your interest with mo to do it. It is
waste of time. It is a long way from the point in question in the case, if there
be a point.
A long argument ensued one day as to whether certain witnesses
should be in or out of court. Under pressure from plaintiffs' counsel
all except one or two were excluded. But (as the Judge had pointed
out) there was no room available in which to keep them together, and
the next day they had to be readmitted. However, the underlying
purpose of it all was serious enough. At the commencement ]VIr.
T. R. Hughes, K.C. (who, with Mr. A. J. Walter, K.C., and Mr. E.
Radford, was acting for the defence) offered an undertaking to guard
against any stores customer being supphed with C.W.S. soaps in
place of Messrs. Lever's without his or her knowledge ai d consent,
and to " advertise m the fullest possible manner to all our members
and customers that we do not stock either ' Lux ' or ' Monkey
Brand,' or any of Messrs. Lever's goods." But this was not at all
to the taste of the plaintiffs. They demanded an admission of
previous wrongdoing, and an agreement to pay the heavy costs of
the actions—m other words, the co-operators to bind themselves
into subjection. The question was put in court to Sir WiUiam Lever
" Will it satisfy you if we advertise in all the shops of the different
co-operative societies that we do not stock anj'' of your soaps at all,
and do not sell them under any circumstances ? " And the reply
came: "No; nothing will satisfy me until no substitution takes
place." Then, further, as to how "substitution " was to be avoided
" In your view the only possible course is to stock j^our soaps, you
think ? " and promptly came the acceptance: "I do; the only
"
possible course is to give the article the pubhc ask for." I have
to spend large sums in advertising," he added a httle later, in excuse
"
of his claim, and it is impossible for me to do business under this
system they have adopted of sending circulars out and substitution
going on." It is interesting to notice, although it is by the way,
that so prominent a capitalist professed (in the witness box) to
understand the constitution of the C.W.S. , "perhaps as much as it
is"possible for an outsider," but when IMr. Hughes pointed out that
the whole co-operative business was done " for the benefit of their
own members," he rephed quickly, " Surely there is no difference
between members and shareholders, is there ? " The inability to
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