Page 505 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

First Plans for the C.W,S.
held in the Mechanics' Institution, Cooper Street, at ten o'clock of the morning
of the 13th. They will see also that, after much discussion, the following two
—
resolutions, with others, were unanimously carried: ' (1) That Messrs. Lloyd
Jones (of London), William Bell (of Heywood), James Campbell (of Manchester),
and James Smithies (of Rochdale) form a committee, and draw up plans
and rules for guiding the co-operative movement of England. (2) That the
committee send a printed prospectus to all the co-operative stores, workshops,
and private individuals by the 1st of July next, calling upon them to take up
shares for the purpose of establishing a general depot in Manchester, for
suppl5nng the stores with groceries and provisions.' There were five other
resolutions, but these two only bear directly on this question.
" It was in consequence of my appointment by the first resolution that I
drew up the document, and I am prepared to say that when Mr. Smithies put
the copy in his writing into my hands, having written on it the words Drawn
'
up by Mr. Lloyd Jones, and written by Mr. James Smithies, in 1851,' I had
forgotten all about it. I may add that the document, as you published it, is
dated 1852, but the 2 has a stroke drawn across it as a correction of date."

2.—THE ORIGINAL PAPER BY ABRAHAM GREENWOOD.
[The following paper, as read by Mr. Greenwood at the " Wholesale " Conference
of 1862, frequently has been referred to in co-operative writings, although
hitherto inaccessible. ]
Before proceeding to develop a scheme of a wholesale agency, permit me
in the first place to glance at past efforts to accomplish the object we are
this day met to discuss, viz., the desirability of aggregating the purchasing
power of the co-operative stores, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and
adjoining counties.
The first attempt in this direction was naade by the Christian Socialists,
conspicuous amongst whom were Edward Vansittart Neale, Esq., Rev. F. D.
Maurice, Rev. Charles Ivingsley, J. M. Ludlow, Thomas Hughes, F. J. Fumivall,
Joseph Woodin, and Lloyd Jones, Esquires. I am thus circumstantial in
mentioning the names of these gentlemen, that their services in the early
stages of the co-operative movement may be acknowledged; they not only
wished well to, but aided nobly by their well-known talents, and no less by
their pecuniary assistance to, the cause of true co-operation. They instituted
the " Central Co-operative Agency " for the purpose of counteracting the
system of adulteration and fraud prevailing in trade, and for supplying to
co-operative stores a quality of goods that could be relied upon and in the
highest state of purity. The agency did not prove a success, but had to be
given up, entailing great loss to its promoters. There is still a remnant of
the agency left, known by the firm of " Woodin and Co., Sherborne Lane,
London."
The second effort was made by the " Equitable Pioneers' Society" in 1852,
by initiating a " Wholesale Department." This department was originated for
supplying goods to its members in large quantities, and also with a view to
supplying the co-operative stores of Lancashire and Yorkshire, whose small
capital did not enable them to purchase in the best market, nor command the
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