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
When Mr David Smith resigned the secretaryship of the Society to take up
its management he was succeeded by Mr Thomas Slater, who represented
London Road Society on the board, and Mr Slater continued to act as
secretary until the end of 1887. During his term of office Mr Slater had
proven himself a most efficient and painstaking secretary, and it was
due to his initiative that the ground annual of the St James Street
property was purchased by the Society. After ceasing his official
connection with the Society he continued to take a keen interest in its
affairs and at times even to criticise the policy of the directors
through the columns of the press.
ANDREW BROWN.
It is probable that it was to the wise guidance of Mr Andrew Brown more
than to the work of any other man that the Baking Society was able to
overcome the difficulties of its early days. He was appointed to the
chair in 1872, and continued to act as president during all the
strenuous days when the proposals for building a branch bakery farther
west were being discussed with vigour. When he became president the
Society had many difficulties to contend with, not the least of which
were inefficient workmen, while shortage of money retarded its
operations to a very great extent. Mr Brown continued to act as chairman
until his society—Paisley Provident—withdrew from membership at the end
of 1880. All those who had the pleasure of knowing him speak of him as a
cautious leader, shrewd and clear-sighted, who always took a business
view of the proposals which came before the committee. Thus he was able
to steer clear of the many pitfalls which lined the pathway of his
Society.
ALEXANDER FRASER.
Mr Alexander Fraser succeeded Mr Brown in the chair. At the time of his
appointment to the chair he had been continuously a member of the board
of the Society from March 1873, as the representative of Busby Society,
and he continued to perform the duties of president of the Society until
the quarterly meeting which was held in December 1887. Mr Fraser had
thus an unbroken connection with the committee of the Society for the
long period of fourteen years, until then the longest period during
which any member had filled a seat on the board. During his term of
office he had seen the Society grow wondrously. He had seen it become
too big for its home at St James Street, and had steered it safely to
its new home, erected specially for its occupation, at M‘Neil Street,
and he felt that, that task accomplished, he did well to lay aside his
task. He was a worthy successor to Mr Brown and a worthy predecessor of
the men who followed him.
JOHN FERGUSON.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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