History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd. : $b A fifty years' record 1869–1919Reid, William
History
History of the United Co-operative Baking Society Ltd. : $b A fifty years' record 1869–1919
Reid, William
United Co-operative Baking Society, Ltd., Glasgow
Never at any time had the directors shown carelessness in their
supervision of what had now become a gigantic concern, and they were
continually giving thought to means of improving the organisation of the
Federation and of improving the supervision by the committee. Early in
the period with which this chapter deals, they made arrangements whereby
the members of the committee took it in turn to visit the bakery each
week. These visits were found of value by the members of the committee,
as it enabled them to acquire fuller information about the working of
the Society. Each member reported the result of his visit to the
sub-committee, together with any suggestion he had to make.
Towards the end of 1894 the committee appointed a biscuit traveller, Mr
Archibald Petrie being the man appointed.
MANAGER OR NO MANAGER.
The quarterly meeting had under consideration the question of the
general management of the Society, the points discussed being the
appointment of a general manager, or the development of the system of
departmental managership. The discussion was inaugurated on a motion
moved by Mr Malcolm of Newton Society, “that a general manager be
appointed.” The result of the discussion was the adoption of a
suggestion by Mr Glasse—who said he had sat in committee with a manager
and without a manager, and was of the opinion that the business could be
best managed without a manager. He suggested that the matter should be
remitted back to the committee for consideration and report, and the
other motions and amendments which had been moved were withdrawn in
favour of this suggestion.
The committee took up consideration of the question within a month, and
came to the conclusion that the business of the Society could be best
managed by being divided into six departments, with a departmental
manager over each, who would be in direct touch with the committee.
These departments were: (1) The counting-house; with Mr James H. Forsyth
as head—this department to include all the commercial transactions of
the Society. (2) The productive department, including the production of
all bread, smallbread, biscuits, and oatcakes; to be under the charge of
Mr Robert Fraser, who was also to have control of the enginemen and
oilers. (3) The distributive department, which was to include the
dispatching of the bread and the packing and dispatching of the biscuits
and oatcakes; to be under the management of Mr William Miller. (4) The
delivery was to be under the control of Mr Milne, stable foreman, who
was to have control of all the horses, vanmen, and nightwatchman. (5)
The building and repairs department, including the tradesmen and their
assistants; to be controlled by Mr Davidson. (6) The purvey department
and tearooms, under the management of Mr Robert Watson.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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