Page 362 - 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.
the machines was made out, however, by the C.W.S. Committee.
They had held back from the step for eighteen months. Meanwhile,
330 of the new labour-saving devices had found their way to this
country from America, of Avhich number ninety were in use in
Leicester. The new method, it was said, meant a better average
lasting, and an improved appearance in consequence—a statement
which, coming from the platform, was endorsed for the wearers by a
leader of the Women's Guild speaking from the body of the hall.
Hence, in the face of competition, the use of the new invention had
become imperative. Operators had been found amongst the men
affected, and the remainder would receive fu'st consideration when
vacancies next occurred at the works. Having stated this in the
name of the Committee concerned, Mr. Lander, amidst applause,
then went a step further. As reported in the Co-operative News
(June 24th, 1911), he said:—
He wished to say, however, that the Committee were taking into
consideration tlie men, with a view to helping them. In fact, the Board had
considered it, and they were meeting the men during next week for the purpose
of giving them a grant to help them over their present difficulty; and in doing
that they were being warned by other people that they were doing something
that other manufacturers had not done, and would not consider, and it
would be said that the Wholesale were taking a dangerous step. But if
co-operation meant uplifting, he held that they ought to do it when men were
in adversity.
The amount paid to each man who lost his employment was £10, in
addition to the C.W.S. contribution under the thrift fund, of which
latter provision an account will be found in the final chapter of this
history.

The Co-operative Wholesale Society, in its production, sets itself
to supply all the constant needs of the worker and his wife, their
children, and their home. This is the one principle that has drawn
together such different businesses as flour milhng, soap making,
fruit growing, tea growing, tobacco manufacturing, tailoring, shirt
making, skirt and costume making, weaving, hosiery knitting, boot
making, cabinet making, and so on. The same thread of purpose
now leads to three or four factories producing articles of pure
household utility. First of these in the value of its supplies and the
number of its workers is the Leeds Brush and Mat Factory. Brush
making by the C.W.S. began in that humble way with which we are
now famiUar. It was developed by the furnishing department at
Leman Street, London, and for a few years was carried on adjacent
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