BELFAST BRANCH.
CO-OPERATION IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND—EARLY BAKING PROPOSALS—DISPUTE
WITH LOCAL BAKERS—SCOTLAND TO THE RESCUE—A TEMPORARY
BAKERY—EXPANDING TRADE—THE BAKERY COMPLETED—THE OPENING
CEREMONY—GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT—GROCERS AS AGENTS FOR
BREAD—EXTENSIONS NECESSARY—THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE—CONTINUOUS
PROGRESS—A SERIES OF EXTENSIONS—SOME RETAIL SOCIETY FAILURES—HELP
FOR DUBLIN STRIKERS—GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS—A REGRETTABLE
ACCIDENT—THE FEDERATION’S GENEROSITY—THE WAR AND ITS
EFFECTS—OATCAKE BAKING STARTED—THE BELFAST STRIKE—A TRADE UNION
TESTIMONIAL—THE INFLUENCE OF THE U.C.B.S. ON IRISH CO-OPERATION.
The Co-operative movement in the North of Ireland is a plant of
comparatively recent growth. In the early ’nineties of last century
there were only some four or five retail societies in the whole North,
and most of them were far from strong—so weak, indeed, that two of them
afterwards went down. When they came under the control of the
Co-operative Union they were placed under the wing of the Scottish
Sectional Board, and that Board undertook a large amount of propaganda
work which had the effect of strengthening the existing societies and of
leading to the formation of new ones. Amongst those which were formed as
the result of this propaganda zeal on the part of Scottish Co-operators
the strongest which remain to-day are Armagh and Portadown, but the work
of Co-operation in Lisburn and Belfast was strengthened materially by
the propagandist efforts of the Scottish enthusiasts.
At that early period the society which then existed in Londonderry was
probably the strongest in the whole of Ireland, and it was the first
Irish society to become a member of the United Baking Society, but,
unfortunately, the closing down at a later period of the work in which
the majority of the members were employed led, indirectly at least, to
its collapse. Another society which was only able to struggle on for a
few years was that situated at Lurgan. Belfast was in a bad way. It had
practically no capital and was carrying on by the aid of bank
overdrafts. Nor at that time was Lisburn in much better case.
EARLY BAKING PROPOSALS.
Through the visits of Mr James Deans and of other Scottish propagandists
the societies in the North of Ireland began to hear tales of the success
which was attending the work of the Federated Baking Society in Glasgow,
while in 1898 the Baking Society sent over Mr Petrie and one of the
directors on a propaganda tour, with the view of opening up a business
connection with the Irish societies. These gentlemen attended a meeting
of the Irish Conference Association, and Mr Hamilton told the delegates
something of the work which the Federation was doing, with the result
that some good orders were received. It was as a result of this visit
that Londonderry Society joined the Federation, to be followed in
succeeding years by Lisburn and Belfast. It was as a result of this
visit also that Mr M‘Culloch, President of the Baking Society, was
invited to read a paper on “Federated Baking” at a conference which was
held in Belfast in August of the same year. There was no immediate fruit
from the reading of Mr M‘Culloch’s paper, but when, some years later,
the private baking firms in the North of Ireland began to apply the
screw to Irish Co-operators the proposals he had made were recalled and
a deputation was sent over to seek help. Meantime the societies in
Ireland were increasing in number and in strength. Lisburn had started
into new life; Armagh and Portadown societies had been formed; and
Belfast was making headway slowly but surely. Until this time little
trade in bread had been done by the U.C.B.S. with the Irish societies,
the bulky character of the commodity and the long distance from the
centre militating against this, although for a time at least ’Derry
Society had bread sent over in hampers.
DISPUTE WITH LOCAL BAKERS.
It was in 1903 that the private bakers in Ireland began to show their
hostility to Co-operation. At first this hostility did not take the form
of an absolute refusal to supply bread, but the equally effective one of
reducing the discount allowed and at the same time refusing to undertake
delivery. In Belfast the society was badly hit by this policy, and in
their need they applied to the U.C.B.S. for assistance, asking them to
supply the society with bread and at the same time to take into
consideration the opening of a branch bakery in Belfast. Belfast Society
followed up their letter by a deputation, and as a result of the
interview the Bakery Board agreed to supply the society with bread in
the meantime and also to lend them two vans to enable them to distribute
the bread to their members.
At the June quarterly meeting of 1903 a Belfast deputation again
attended to plead their cause with the delegates. Mr Gilchrist was their
spokesman and made a lengthy statement, explaining the friction which
had arisen between the society and the local baking firms and the steps
which the society had taken to meet the difficulty. He stated that the
membership and trade of the society were both increasing rapidly, and
made a strong plea that the Federation should come to their help by
planting a branch bakery in Belfast. The result was that power was given
to the committee of the Federation to help Belfast Society in any way
possible. One of Kinning Park delegates moved an amendment to the effect
that power be not given, but this amendment did not meet with much
support.
The result of this decision was that the Committee appointed a
deputation to visit Belfast with the object of finding out the real
position there and what buildings or land might be available for the
planting of a branch. A bakery, consisting of two Scotch ovens and one
draw-plate oven, together with the necessary bakery plant, had been
discovered, and seemed a suitable place, while the price was £750, but
it was ultimately decided that ere making an offer all the Irish
societies should be consulted as to the best method of assisting Irish
Co-operation under the circumstances. By the time the replies to the
letters sent had been received, however, the Committee were informed
that the bakery they had under consideration had been sold, with the
result that the manager and secretary of Belfast Society were requested
to supply particulars of other vacant sites, and particularly of open
ground suitable for building on. When these reports came to hand they
contained particulars of six different plots of ground, ranging from one
acre to five acres in extent, and with prices ranging from £26 per acre
to £60 per acre—the latter price, however, including the making of
streets. With these reports before them the Committee decided to delay
coming to any decision until after the question had been again before
the quarterly meeting, but to go forward to the quarterly meeting with a
recommendation that a branch be erected at Belfast.
SCOTLAND COMES TO THE RESCUE.
At this time the position in Belfast warranted fully the optimistic tone
in which Mr Gilchrist had spoken three months earlier of its future. The
society had been established for fourteen years and its sales were
rather more than £30,000 a year. It was not their size, however, but the
rapidity with which they were growing which led to the optimism of those
who were responsible for the management of the society. In one year they
had grown from £5,000 a quarter to £10,000 a quarter. From the one tiny
branch in Shanklin Road the society had grown until it was now the owner
of four branches, and the members continued to join the society in large
numbers. All this the delegates had found out during their visit to
Belfast, and they considered that the facts justified the recommendation
they were making—that a branch should be established there.
In bringing the recommendation before the delegates the chairman stated
that Belfast Society was purchasing at the moment from 400 dozens to 500
dozens of bread weekly, notwithstanding the fact that the bread was a
day old before they received it. The membership of Belfast Society was
1,200, and was increasing rapidly, and both manager and committee were
of opinion that the trade would be doubled if they had a bakery on the
spot which could supply them with new bread daily. While a sum of £2,000
or £3,000 would be sufficient to erect a bakery which would meet present
requirements, the idea of the Federation directors was that sufficient
land should be acquired and they should build on a plan which would
permit of expansion in the future. The directors, he concluded, were
unanimously of opinion that not only would a branch bakery be of
immediate service to Belfast Society, but that it would consolidate and
strengthen the whole movement in the North of Ireland, while it could be
established without any serious risk to the Federation. The motion that
the proposal of the directors be approved was moved by Mr Duncan of
Kinning Park, who had moved the rejection of the proposal to give
assistance three months earlier, and the recommendation received the
unanimous approval of the delegates.
Thus the fateful decision was taken—a decision which, as Irish
Co-operators will be the first to acknowledge, was fraught with
possibilities of immense good to Ireland, possibilities which have
fructified into actualities as the years have passed. The decision
strengthened the hands of Belfast Society at the moment, but it has done
far more during the period which has intervened, for the powerful aid
which the U.C.B.S. has been ever able and ever willing to render has
made it possible for the Irish societies in the North, at a time when no
one of them was overburdened with capital, to devote what capital they
did possess to the extension of their businesses in other directions,
secure in the knowledge that the staff of life was assured to their
members for such period as they were able to make reasonable provision
for the payment of the services thus rendered.
THE BAKERY.
Having secured the approval of the delegates for their proposals, the
first duty which devolved on the directors was that of finding a
suitable site. In order that all the members of the committee might be
able to come to decisions with the fullest knowledge obtainable, they
decided at the outset that they should visit Belfast in a body, and
inspect the various sites of which they had information, meantime
delaying the final decision. Eight different sites were examined, and,
ultimately, the final decision rested between two of these, that at
Ravenhill Avenue being the one which finally found favour, at a rental
of £80 per annum. Mr W. J. Gililand, Belfast, was appointed architect,
and was instructed to prepare plans for a temporary bakery, containing
four ovens, to meet immediate needs, before proceeding with plans for
the general building. At a later meeting it was decided that the
delivery of the bread should be undertaken by Belfast Society, and that
special terms should be arranged for this service. By January the
temporary building had been commenced, and by the beginning of June was
ready to begin operations. Mr George Forshaw, East of Scotland
representative, was appointed commercial manager and Irish traveller,
and Mr James Moffat, Belfast, foreman baker. Baking was begun on 2nd
June, the temporary building having been fitted-up with one Scotch oven
and three draw-plate ovens. Unfortunately, a dispute between the
architect and the Corporation of Belfast had hindered the erection of
the temporary bakery for a little, but, during a special visit paid to
Belfast, Mr Young, manager, was able to arrange matters amicably.
Nevertheless, the dispute cost the Society over £18 in legal and other
expenses.
The area in which the Society’s bread was used soon began to widen. At
first Belfast was practically the only customer, but in the course of a
month or two society after society became customers, so that by the
beginning of August there were five societies, in addition to Belfast,
customers for bread. This good result was due to visits which had been
paid by some members of the directorate to the committees of the
societies. At the same time, Lurgan Society applied for membership and
was admitted.
It was not until the middle of November that tenders for the completion
of the main building were accepted, and then the committee had not
finally made up their minds how much of the work they were going to
complete at once, but reserved to themselves power to stop with the
completion of the front section if they thought this plan desirable.
When the matter was further considered in March, however, the committee
were unanimously of the opinion that the building should be two storeys
in height.
THE BAKERY COMPLETED.
Some of the difficulties which had worried the committee so much when
the first section of the M‘Neil Street building was under construction
manifested themselves again at Belfast, and it was found that it was not
in Glasgow alone that builders were dilatory. The committee had hoped
that the finished building would be ready for opening in September, but
it was not until April of the following year that it was completed. The
building erected contained provision for eighteen ovens on two floors;
but at first only nine ovens were built on the ground floor, the upper
floor being used for storage purposes. The ovens were of the draw-plate
type, and amongst the machinery installed was an automatic dough-divider
and handing-up machine, capable of weighing accurately 2,800 loaves per
hour.
Elaborate arrangements were made for the opening ceremony, for truly it
was a great day for Ireland. All the societies in the Federation were
invited to send delegates to Belfast, and provision for their conveyance
and comfort was made by the Baking Society. The U.C.B.S. band
accompanied the party, and discoursed sweet music during the journey
from Ardrossan to Belfast. After spending the hours of Sunday in
whatever manner they felt inclined, the delegates were driven in brakes
on the Monday morning to Ravenhill Avenue. The procession, for that is
what it amounted to, attracted great attention as it drove through the
streets of the city with bands playing. Doubtless, many of the good
folks of Belfast wondered what all the noise was about, for at that time
Co-operation had but a very small share in the commercial life of the
commercial capital of the Green Isle, and it is quite likely that many
thousands of the inhabitants of the city knew nothing of the momentous
event which was going to take place that morning. To many of them
Co-operation was only a word, the meaning of which they did not
understand, and to many more even the word was unknown.
At the opening ceremony Mr James Bain, the secretary of the Federation,
presided, and, in the short speech he delivered in introducing Mr
Gerrard, who was to declare the premises open, he voiced the true spirit
of Co-operation. Their meeting, he said, was a public assurance that
wherever the brotherhood of Co-operation existed, no matter whether a
society was in the throes of adversity or rejoicing in the hope of
prosperity, they were ready to lend a helping hand in adversity or to
share in the joys of prosperity. When the word had come to Scotland that
their Celtic brothers were in need of assistance the U.C.B.S., in season
and out of season, had done their best to give the needed help. He was
glad that the request they had made had been so far acceded to, and that
they were there on that glorious Easter Monday morning to witness its
fruition. They looked forward to the new branch as a means of
consolidating and advancing Co-operation not only in the North of
Ireland but throughout the whole of Ireland. It was only their first
branch, but they were looking forward to the time when they would have a
great many more branches scattered over the whole of Ireland.
Mr Gerrard had presented to him a handsome gold key with which to open
the door of the building. In declaring the premises open, he said they
were that day marking an important epoch in the history of Co-operation.
In Ireland distributive Co-operation could not be said to be flourishing
like the green bay tree. On the contrary, its progress had been slow and
its development difficult. In that the progress of the movement did not
differ from its progress elsewhere. Everywhere there had been societies
which were weak, but in Ireland, as elsewhere, those who constituted the
membership had struggled heroically. Under difficulties and
discouragements, before which many would have gone under, they had
endeavoured to hold fast that which they had, and taking encouragement
to themselves from their belief that the principle of associated effort
for mutual benefit, which they represented but feebly, would ultimately
be grasped by their fellow-countrymen and would work for their common
good, they had struggled on.
Later in the day luncheon was served in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, after which
more congratulatory speeches were delivered, the speakers including,
besides Mr Gerrard, Mr Richardson (president of Belfast Society), Mr
James Deans, Mr Duncan M‘Culloch, Mr Robert Fleming, Mr Alexander
Hamilton, and others, after which the Scottish visitors joined the
steamer again _en route_ for home; which, however, many of them did not
reach without discovering that “a life on the ocean wave” was not
without its drawbacks.
The opening of the new bakery at once sent the trade up with a jump; so
much so that, at the close of the half-year which ended in July, a
profit of £550 was shown as compared with a profit of £116 for the
half-year which ended in January. During the half-year 3,853 sacks were
baked, an increase of 59 per week over the previous half-year,
notwithstanding the fact that the large bakery had only been working for
three months. From that time onward the output showed a practically
continuous increase. The reasons for this were many. The Irish societies
in the North were increasing in membership and strength, and new
societies were being formed and were joining the Federation.
Particularly was this increase in membership and strength notable in
Belfast, where the movement has never looked back since the opening of
the bakery. The quality of the bread had also something to do with the
increase in trade. Before the temporary bakery had been long in
existence the foreman sent samples of his workmanship to the Bakers’
Exhibition held in the Agricultural Hall, London, where he was
successful in securing first and third prizes. This superiority in the
quality of the bread baked has been maintained throughout the life of
the branch. So superior, indeed, was the bread baked at Ravenhill Avenue
that Belfast Society found their bread trade a useful feeder for their
membership roll, customers joining the society as members for bread only
at first, and gradually going on to the purchase of other goods until
they became full-fledged members purchasing from every department.
The committee were assiduous in their endeavours to maintain and
increase the sale of their products. Thus, when owing to lack of
enthusiasm Banbridge Society gave up business, the Society decided to
continue on the road the van which had been working for that society,
employing the man who had done the work for the society, so that the
bread connection might not be lost. So successful did this method prove
that in a comparatively short time they were employing another horse and
van as well. Their bread was becoming so famous in the North of Ireland
that grocers in the outlying villages were anxious to become agents for
it, and, after consideration, the committee agreed, with the proviso
that this should not be done where there was a Co-operative society in
the place.
In order that the delegates of the Irish societies might become familiar
with the Society and its work the committee also invited the Irish
Conference Association to hold their conference under the auspices of
the Federation. So successful were all these means of propagating the
sale of bread that, before the new bakery had been in operation for a
year, the foreman baker was approaching the committee with a proposal
for more oven accommodation.
The Society had given horses and delivery carts on loan to the societies
when the bakery was started, but it was felt that this method of
conducting the business was not satisfactory and could not be allowed to
continue indefinitely, so letters were sent to the societies inviting
them to a conference at which the whole question of delivery could be
discussed. At this conference, which took place in July 1907, the board
proposed that these horses and vans be handed over to the societies, the
Federation, however, retaining a lien on them for three years so that,
in the event of any society discontinuing the purchase of bread inside
that time, the Federation could resume possession. It was also agreed
that, in future, the Federation should deliver the bread at the place
most convenient to each society, but that each society would be
responsible for delivering the bread to its own members. This
arrangement was approved by the representatives from the Irish societies
who were present at the conference.
Already, at the beginning of 1907, the bakery was proving too small for
the work which had to be done, and by the middle of the year it was
decided to add three more ovens, while by the end of the year it had
become necessary to extend the bakery, and it was agreed that this
should be done, at a cost of almost £3,000. At the end of 1907, also, Mr
George Forshaw resigned his position as manager of the branch, and Mr
Duncan M‘Innes, who was in charge of the branch at Falkirk, was
appointed manager in his place.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
The members of the board had now had almost a year’s experience of
managing Belfast Branch, and had come to the conclusion that in order
that the work should be carried on satisfactorily in every respect it
was desirable that representatives of the local societies should be
associated in the management. For this purpose they drew up a scheme for
an advisory committee, to consist of three representatives of Irish
societies. These proposals were approved by the delegates at the
quarterly meeting, and were afterwards submitted to representatives of
the Irish societies and approved by them. Mr Robert Fleming, Belfast,
was appointed convener of the committee, and associated with him were
Messrs Crook, Lisburn, and Palmer, Portadown. The constitution of the
Advisory Committee was as follows:—
The committee shall consist of three members—one of whom shall act
as convener and correspondent.
They shall be elected at a meeting of representatives of Irish
societies to be summoned by the board of management in the month of
July in each year. They shall hold office for two years.
Their duties, generally, shall be to supplement the efforts of the
board of management in developing and consolidating the business of
Belfast branch. To this end, they shall meet and confer with those
members of the board who visit the bakery monthly. They shall keep
in touch with the several societies in the Federation, and advise as
to the most economical means of serving them. They must visit the
societies when commissioned to do so by the board, and carry out any
particular duties assigned to them—such as attending monthly
meeting, conferences, verifying stocks, etc.
They shall be paid at the same rate as the members of the board of
management doing the same work.
From time to time since then the constitution of the advisory committee
has been amended and its membership added to. Very shortly after its
formation it was increased to four members; in 1912 another member was
added; and in September 1918 yet another, making the membership now six.
An important amendment of the constitution was made in 1912, when it was
altered to the following:—
The committee shall consist of five members—chairman, secretary, and
three society representatives.
They shall be elected at the annual meetings of representatives of
federated Irish societies held in July of each year, and shall hold
office for two years (societies shall be entitled to representation
at such meetings in like proportion as to quarterly meeting
immediately preceding). The chairman and one society shall be
elected in alternate years with the secretary and two societies. If
through death, resignation, or otherwise, a vacancy should occur in
the case of an ordinary member, his society shall fill up the
vacancy, and in the case of an official the committee shall have the
power to fill up the vacancy from their own number, subject to the
approval of the following general meeting.
Their duties generally shall be to co-operate with the board of
management in developing and consolidating the business of the
Belfast branch. A sub-committee, consisting of the secretary and one
member (members of the committee attending in rotation for the
purpose), shall be held not later than Thursday in each week except
in such weeks as full meetings of the committee shall be held, as
hereafter provided. They shall inspect the premises and plant,
noting anything requiring attention of manager or board of
management. They shall afterwards receive reports (on prescribed
forms) from distributive and productive managers, who shall both be
in attendance to supplement and explain verbally the reports
submitted by them. The manager shall further report any complaints
received, and the steps, if any, taken to remedy the matters
complained of. He shall also report purchases made and any contracts
entered into for supply of goods.
All correspondence from board of management or elsewhere bearing on
the work of the branch shall be taken up and dealt with.
A copy of the minutes of each sub-committee meeting, with any
recommendations the committee desire to make, shall be forwarded by
the secretary to the board of management in time for consideration
at the board’s weekly meeting held on Friday.
[Illustration:
BELFAST BAKERY
]
[Illustration:
ST MUNGO HALLS
]
Full meetings shall be held on the second and last Saturdays of each
month or other convenient dates, three to form a quorum. Two
representatives from the board of management shall attend one of
these meetings. Cost and profit statements and statistics of trade
with societies for previous month shall be submitted and considered
at this meeting. Matters of general policy and questions remitted
from board of management shall be discussed with visitors. Minutes
of all sub-committee meetings shall be submitted for confirmation to
next full meeting. Distributive and productive managers shall be in
attendance at all meetings.
Appointments for stocktaking, quarterly meetings of the Federation,
visits to societies, conferences, etc., shall be made and reports of
same received at full meetings.
The manager shall consult the members of the advisory committee when
it is possible to do so on matters requiring to be dealt with
between meetings, but this general instruction shall not prevent him
acting on his own initiative when circumstances demand an immediate
decision.
They shall be paid at the same rate as the members of the board of
management doing the same work.
In 1917 Mr R. Fleming, who had acted as convener of the advisory
committee from its formation, was elected a member of the board of the
C.W.S. This necessitated the resignation of his position on the advisory
committee, which took effect at the annual meeting with the Irish
societies in July of that year. Mr J. M‘Guffin, president of Belfast
Society, was elected his successor, and the thanks of the Bakery board
and of the Irish delegates were accorded to Mr Fleming for the work he
had done for the branch. At the quarterly meeting of the Federation in
Glasgow which was held in June Mr Fleming was present, and there also
the thanks of the delegates were conveyed to him by the chairman in an
appreciative speech, to which Mr Fleming made fitting response.
In 1918 there were some differences of opinion on questions of
management between the advisory committee and the board of management,
with the result that the advisory committee suggested resigning in a
body from their offices. This course of action did not commend itself
either to the board of management or to the delegates, and the cause of
friction was removed by another alteration of the constitution of the
advisory committee, which gave that body another member. The principal
alteration, however, was contained in the following clause which was
added to the paragraph in the 1912 constitution which dealt with
“Duties”:—
“Should any difference arise between the committee and the board of
management which cannot be adjusted by correspondence, a joint
meeting of both bodies shall be convened, and the matter determined
by their united vote.”
This clause has the effect of giving the Irish societies one third of
the total representation on the board of management when matters
affecting Ireland which are controversial in their nature are being
discussed and, while maintaining that supremacy which is the right of
the larger and more powerful section of the Federation, ensures that the
case of Ireland shall be put and determined in an atmosphere in which
the fullest consideration will be given to the arguments adduced.
CONTINUOUS PROGRESS.
Already the new bakery was becoming too small for the work, and in
August 1908 it was agreed to complete the central portion of the
building by the addition of other two storeys at a cost of £2,263. Just
prior to this time, however, the committee felt compelled to dispense
with the services of their foreman baker, and Mr W. H. Bell, who had
been his assistant, was appointed in his place. For several years
Belfast Society used the stable at the bakery for stabling their horses,
while they were also permitted to erect a cart shed and a shoeing forge.
Later this society erected stables, etc., for themselves on property
adjoining the bakery, and the ground which had been occupied by them was
utilised by the Federation for necessary extensions to the bakery.
By March 1909 the extended premises were ready for occupation. It was
not long ere the directors were in the mortar tub again, however, for
another extension costing almost £4,000 was entered on in the autumn of
1910; and not long after it was completed there came, in December 1911,
an urgent request from the advisory committee for more ovens, and
another extension, at a total cost of almost £5,000, was entered on and
completed in 1912. These various extensions practically completed the
bakery as it stands at present, except for alterations, minor in
themselves, which were made from time to time during the war period with
the object of increasing the working facilities.
In July 1909 the committee recorded their satisfaction that the average
weekly sales from the bakery amounted to £1,219, while in March 1910 the
weekly turnover had reached 500 sacks; and to meet the increasing demand
three new ovens had to be erected. The Bakery continued to win prizes at
the Agricultural Hall and other exhibitions, thus proving that
Co-operative bread baking on a large scale was equal to producing bread
of the finest quality.
Early in 1910 the directors were saddened by the news that one of the
members of the first advisory committee, Mr Crook, of Lisburn, had
passed away.
Although most of the societies in the North were doing well, there were
one or two which were in a bad way. In 1908 Lurgan Society had to close
its doors. The Federation were creditors to the extent of £114, and when
settling day came it was found that the assets of the dead society were
only capable of returning 1/6 in the pound. In 1910 Newry Society went
the same way. The Federation were creditors to the extent of £200, and
it was expected that the assets would realise 10/ per pound. In Newry
the Federation made temporary arrangements to carry on the bread trade,
as had been done in Banbridge, but after some time this course was
abandoned.
Shortly after the new bakery was opened the two Dublin societies were in
consultation with the committee of the Federation about the erection of
a bakery, and the committee agreed to assist them. The two societies
were unable to agree, however, and the idea of a federal bakery for
Dublin was departed from. In 1910 Dublin Industrial Society erected a
bakery for themselves, and the opening of this bakery was followed in a
short time by the amalgamation of the two societies. The Dublin Society,
however, experienced considerable difficulty in acquiring the knack of
baking good bread—their position in this respect recalls some of the
earlier experiences of the U.C.B.S.—and the Federation readily consented
to Mr Bell or his assistant visiting Dublin to put them on right lines.
In 1913, when the distress due to the strike was at its height in Dublin
and the Trade Unions Congress was coming to the rescue with financial
support, the Industrial Society received a contract for the supply of
from 3,000 to 5,000 loaves daily. As they were unable to handle the
contract in their own bakery they secured the assistance of the U.C.B.S.
bakery in Belfast, which supplied them with the needed quantity of bread
during the period covered by the contract. Later, during the period of
the war, the Industrial Society was in considerable difficulty for a
time, and those responsible for its management were exceedingly anxious
that the U.C.B.S. should take over the bakery. This was not done,
however, and fortunately the society was able to maintain and even to
improve its position.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
At the beginning of 1909 the Bakery secured a contract for the supply of
bread and flour to Newtownards Barracks, and since then have supplied
from time to time that Barracks, as well as those of Holywood, Belfast,
and Kilroot, while, either directly or through local societies, they
have been successful in securing contracts for various local
institutions, one society during the war securing the contract for the
Admiralty.
In 1912 the Society had loaned some motor lorries for an excursion, and
during the day a painful accident took place whereby one child was
killed and three others were severely injured. The Society’s motorman
was completely exonerated from blame for the accident, but in token of
their sympathy the Society paid the doctor’s fees and granted £55 to the
relatives. In 1913 two of the societies were experiencing difficulty in
selling the bread because of the unfair competition to which they were
being subjected in attempts to cause them to give up the bread trade,
but the Federation came to their assistance by allowing them a little
additional discount on their purchases. In 1911 the Irish Agricultural
Wholesale Society was appointed agent in Ireland for the Federation, and
some time later it was stated that since that federation had become
agent the trade had increased. At the Dublin Congress in 1914 the
Federation erected a scone and oatcake baking plant as part of their
exhibit in the Congress exhibition, and this exhibit was an object of
much interest to the Dublin visitors to the exhibition.
THE WAR AND ITS EFFECTS.
In Ireland, as in Scotland, the commanding position of the U.C.B.S. had
a steadying effect on the price of bread at the outbreak of war. The
Society carried good stocks of flour, and by adopting the fixed policy
of regulating the price of bread by the average price of the flour in
stock was able to maintain the price at a lower level than the current
price of flour warranted. In this way, while it was possible to maintain
full stocks of flour, the Bakery was able to keep the price of bread at
a halfpenny per 4–lb. loaf below the price at which other bakers wished
to sell it, and so saved the people of the North many thousands of
pounds.
The difficulties of transport were experienced by the branch, however,
in a much more marked degree than by the parent body. All coal, flour,
sugar, etc., used in the bakery had to be imported, and as transport
costs went up so also did prices, until bread was being sold in Belfast
at one shilling for the 4–lb. loaf. So short did the supply of coal
become that in 1915 Belfast Corporation was unable to supply the Bakery
with coke for firing purposes and a supply had to be sent over from
Glasgow. Flour and sugar also became very scarce, but notwithstanding
those facts the output of the Bakery continued to increase rapidly until
the coming of Government Regulation flour, with its huge proportion of
offal and other nastinesses, created a distaste for bread amongst the
public. At the outbreak of war the output of the Bakery averaged 766
sacks per week, while by the end of 1916 this had risen to 892 sacks per
week, an increase of 16½ per cent. in two and a half years. From then it
gradually declined, until at the end of the 63rd quarter of the working
life of the branch it was only 683 sacks per week. From that time and
during the next six months the trade again increased, so that by the end
of the period with which this history deals, although it had not reached
the high-water mark of 1916, all the evidence went to show that that
point would soon be left behind.
In 1918, with the object of relieving the congestion at M‘Neil Street,
it was resolved to establish an oatcake baking department at Belfast,
and for this purpose several hot-plates were transferred to the Belfast
bakery, as well as several girls from the M‘Neil Street oatcake factory.
This department has since proved a valuable adjunct to the branch, the
plant having had to be augmented and the number of bakers employed
increased.
Just at the end of the period Belfast became involved in one of the most
widespread strikes in the history of the Labour movement, and
practically all work except that of bread baking was brought to a
standstill. The electricity workers of the Corporation came out on
strike along with the other workmen, but fortunately for the branch it
had a power-generating plant of its own, and so was able to continue at
work. By this means the trade of the branch was materially increased.
The fact that the Federation has always been willing to meet the
requests of the employees in a reasonable manner has always enabled the
branch to maintain its popularity with the Belfast workmen, and so
impressed were the executives of the Operative Bakers’ Society with the
fairness and even liberality of the committee that on one occasion an
official letter was sent from the union in which the board of management
were thanked for the assistance which their prompt action in agreeing to
the request of the union for a shorter working week had been in enabling
that concession to be imposed in the baking trade of the city.
When the branch was established in Belfast the distinct understanding on
which the U.C.B.S. took action was that as soon as convenient it should
be taken over by the local societies, but as the years pass the
likelihood of this being done seems to become more remote. As has
already been stated, the branch has been of great assistance not only to
Belfast Society but also to the majority of other societies in the
North. It has fostered the Co-operative spirit and Co-operative
idealism. From a weakling which was very much in need of the fostering
care of the movement in Scotland Co-operation in Ireland, and especially
in the North of Ireland, has grown to be a strong and healthy
organisation, with its centre in Belfast and with branches scattered all
over Ulster. It is probable that the Irish societies are strong enough
now to take over the branch if they were so disposed, but the farseeing
spirits amongst them see that there is other work lying to their hand to
which, relieved of the working of the bakery, they can turn their
undivided attention.
On the other hand, the proposal, adopted in 1917, that the Federation
should proceed, as and when expedient, to plant branches in other
centres of Co-operation in Ireland, will in course of time cause the
U.C.B.S. in Ireland to cease to be an exclusively North of Ireland
concern. It will do much, just as the other federation in Ireland, the
I.A.W.S., is doing much, to weld together into one united movement the
whole of the Co-operative societies in the country. It will serve for
Ireland, as it and its kindred associations in Scotland and England are
serving to-day, as an illustration of the fact that Co-operation is not
merely a principle for adoption by a few farmers or a few workmen in a
given district, but is also a principle on which these isolated groups
can be united into one powerful whole, by becoming an institution where
all can meet on a common platform.