Page 437 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

CHAPTER XXVIII. — — —

The Society and Its Employees.
No Employer of a more varied Body of Workers Progress in Wages and
Conditions—Untabulated Benefits—Dining-rooms—Superannuation and
the Thrift Fund—Minimum Wages—Compulsory Trade Unionism,
" Welfare Work," and Co-operative Principles—A Neglected Problem
Sick Clubs and Benevolent Funds—Educational and Social Activities
The Annual Picnic—The Fire Brigade—Our Guests—Looking Backward
and Looking Forward—Years 1863-1913.
THE time was 1864, and the place of business of the " North
of England Co-operative Wholesale Industrial and Provident
Society Limited " lay in a small house in Cannon Street, Manchester.
You went along a narrow passage to a little room, where samples of
groceries stood in paper bags on a shelf put up temporarily. A
buyer, a warehouseman, and a boy were the sole permanent
occupants. The tenants were new. They had taken these as " larger
and more commodious " premises, and they were not shrinking from
an increase of staff. The opportunitj'' of a clerkship came to a
young " Son of Temperance." He had another opening in view, in
connection with a firm of taimers in Salford, and his parents
discussed the outlook with a fellow " Son," whose name was JVIitchell.
The latter was himself "a thin slip of a young fellow," not yet a
member of the C.W.S. Committee.
" I don't see any prospects at Cannon Street for the lad to look
forward to," said the father.
The eyes of the co-operator lit, and his gestures told his
earnestness. "Believe me," he said, "we shall sail our o%vn ships
yet."
"Oh, John," exclaimed father and mother together, as all
except the future chairman laughed at the idea.
" They'll be paper boats in the gutter," added the father.
" Well, I advise you to let him go," repHed Mitchell.
The lad of 1864 was the late Mr. James W. Bercsford. He
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