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.