Page 428 - 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 Story of the C.W.S.

for referring the entire question to the Co-operative Union. The
latter was carried by 1,053 to 931.
The feeling in favour of Co-operative Union mediation gained
from the fact that a concihatory set of insurance resolutions leading
in this direction had been adopted by a large majority only a week
or so previously at the Co-operative Congress held in Newport. But
the effect of this decision may be told briefly. The first attempts
at a joint conference proved abortive; the Scottish Society having
no mandate to join except as a matter of courtesy. And the C.W.S.
while treating the invitation with respect, knew quite well that the
ground already had been explored by both parties, and the issues
defined. Not unwillingly they accepted the position created by the
Scottish decision, and in March, 1909, asked that the resolution of the
previous June should be rescinded, and the Committee left free " to
take further action when they think it advisable, and to obtain the
approval of the members to their proposals." At this meeting the
delegates were busy criticising the productive losses, and the
recommendation was carried almost without discussion. Further
attempts by the Co-operative Union failed almost equally ; and at
Plymouth in 1910 and Bradford in 1911 the Annual Congress
received reports of no progress. And when the Congress sitting at
Portsmouth in 1912 finally debated the issue, practically it simply
endorsed a course of action already certain.
Notwithstanding the Sunderland defeat the agitation still
proceeded. The argument for unification, indeed, was irresistible.
With one federation combining banking, wholesale deahng of all
kinds, and manufacturing, another special federation for insurance
only seemed to have little reason for separate existence. It is true
the Insurance Society was improving its position. Its total reserve
grew from some £170,000 in 1906 to about £355,000 in 1911—the
C.W.S. fund increasing meanwhile from £598,000 to £848,000. But
since the society, while doing business with some fifteen hundred
co-operative societies, even now could muster no more than eight
hundred societ3^-members, the growth of the society's reserve only
furnished a stronger argument for the opposition. There were
deputations to the C.W.S. to urge that many societies were simply
awaiting a lead; and at last the Committee crossed the Rubicon.
In July, 1909, exercising a lenders' privilege, the Committee had
stipulated for an insurance in the C.W.S. fund of all properties
for which money was lent under the house-building scheme. In 1910
this condition was extended to business premises on the security of
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