Page 490 - 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.
delivered forming the basis of the paper on The Co-operation of Consumers,
read by invitation of the British Association before the Economic Section at
Leicester in 1907. Vice-chairman of the C.W.S. since the re-constitution in
1906, and a J.P. for the borough of West Hartlepool.
Warwick, Joseph (1845-1912).— ^Born at Carlisle, the son of a joiner; first
worked at his father's trade and later as a smith. Elected to the committee of
the North Shields Society in 1882, he served as president from 1887 to 1891,
and was the Local Editor of the Wheatsheaf from its commencement in 1896
to 1903. Presided over the Middlesbrough Congress of 1901. A member of
the C.W.S. Committee from 1903 until his decease. A Wesleyan Methodist,
well known as a local preacher, and in politics a Liberal.
Watts, John (1818-1887).—Born at Coventry, the son of a ribbon-weaver
and one of twelve children ; self-educated. Suffering a partial paralysis,
he was unable to follow manual employment, and became assistant secretary
and librarian at the local Mechanics' Institute; then an Owenite lecturer.
In 1841 he taught a boys' school in Manchester; in 1844 he gave up the
community ideal of Owen as impracticable. Received the degree of Ph.D. from
the University of Glasgow. In 1845 he took part in the movement which gave
three public parks to Manchester and Salford; in 1850 led in the establishment
at Manchester of the first public free library ; promoted the People's Provident
Assurance Society, and embodied lessons of its failure in drafting the Bill
which became the Life Assurance Act of 1870; active member of Manchester
School Board from 1870; wrote the History of the Cotton Famine. Always
a keen supporter of the C.W.S., in the Co-operative News he powerfully
advocated and defended the federal system of co-operation, rendering great
service to the Society and the movement. "His history," said the Liverpool
Mercury in a memorial notice, " was to a large extent the record of the intellec-
tual progress of Manchester for the last forty years."
Webb, T. E. (1829-1896).—Of Battersea. Worked as a child in a candle
factory ; afterwards as a copper-smith. A pioneer of modern co-operation in
London, he helped to found a society at Battersea, and was successively
committee-man, chairman, secretary, and secretary and manager from 1854
to 1890, when he became its honorary president. He was also the first
president of the People's Co-operative Society—another valiant attempt to
solve the problem of London. A member of the first C.W.S. London Branch
Committee (1874), he retained his seat until his decease. Miss Catherine Webb,
editor of the co-operative text-book. Industrial Co-operation, is his daughter.
Whiley, Henry (1834-1893).—Apprenticed to agricultural engineering in
Sturton, Lincolnshire; in 1865 he was appointed assistant surveyor and
sanitary inspector to the Manchester Corporation, and became chief siirveyor
in 1873, originating many devices for the better disposal of refuse. A member
of the Central Co-operative Board from its institution in 1869 to about 1875;
also of the Newspaper Board from 1871 to 1875. A member of the C.W.S.
Committee from 1872 to 1874 and from 1874 to 1876.
Whiteley, Job (1817-1879).—Of Halifax. Served on the C.W.S. Committee
from August, 1871, to February, 1872, and from February, 1873, to February,
1874. A mill manager in business, a Liberal, and a Methodist (New Connexion),
he was prominent also as an Oddfellow.
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