Page 336 - 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.
Before that date there had been one or two cutters and a few
machmists employed upon bespoke work in rooms at Cable Street,
adjacent to Balloon Street. This was in connection with the
distributive department concerned. For a short period at Broughton
the factory was under the supervision of IVIr. Uttley, of Leeds;
then the management again was combined with that of the Balloon
Street woollens and ready-mades department under Mr. Gibson.
At Broughton the output of the tailoring factory quickly jumped
from a value of £7,561 for the first six months (1895) to £27,010 in
1897. New premises at the same address were opened, therefore,
in 1897, and the management reported that " we have now the
finest special clothing factory in Manchester." In 1901 the value of
supplies was £40,180, and the average number of workers employed
was 540. In 1899 the factory definitely was put under separate
management, and Mr. Grierson was appointed. In 1912 the workers
numbered 640, and the value of supplies amounted to £52,441,
a fairly large increase, especially if taken in conjunction with a
similar one at Leeds. Nevertheless, it may be admitted frankly
that the C.W.S. tailoring factories have not b}^ any means exhausted
the co-operative possibilities of the great new " factory bespoke "
trade.
A difficulty of all the clothing factories (and others besides) is,
and has been, the seasonal nature of the demand. When orders that
cannot be long delayed multiply during the six weeks between Easter
and Whitsuntide to four times the normal it becomes impossible
to secure the regular working which has ever been an ideal of
co-operative production. Concerning this difficulty man}' reports
were made and many joint meetings of productive and distributive
heads were held. The factories asked for stock orders from the
central warehouses during the slack seasons, while the warehouses
urged the necessity of protecting themselves against overstocldng
or allowing cloth to be made up that later might sell better in the
piece. ... In an all-co-operative state the problem of seasonal
trades could be solved with comparative ease. That duties go with
rights is a truism, and under a system of general co-operation it
would be both fair and practicable to encourage or insist upon a
conscientious demand. People with money to spend certainly can be
unjust and selfish in their spending ; and, under the capitahst system,
the consuming public \siiich is shut out from anj' o^^'ne^ship of
industry, at the same time is indulged in every whim and fancy.
To serve the public is not to spoil the public, and co-operative
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