In March 1872 Mr Cameron resigned from the presidency of the Society as he had become an employee, and Mr Andrew Brown (Paisley Provident) was elected president until the quarterly meeting, when his appointment was confirmed. Meantime the Society was having some trouble with the last pair of ovens erected. The gentleman appointed as inspector reported that they were not according to specification, and were of less value than had been contracted for. At the same time he suggested that an endeavour should be made to settle the matter amicably, “as a lawsuit would result in a loss to both parties”; which sensible advice was taken by the committee, who, however, decided “to retain the money lying in their hands until satisfied with the finish and durability of the work.” They also decided to deduct £10 from the estimate price for departure from the terms of specification. At a later meeting, however, it was decided to meet the oven-builder half way and be content with a deduction of £5. For some time negotiations had been going on between the Society’s tenant of the engineering shop and the committee on the question of whether the boiler in that shop, which was the property of the Society, should be kept in repair by the tenant or by the owners. The committee contended that, according to the terms of the lease, the duty of keeping the boiler and other machinery in repair devolved on the tenant, but as a way out of the difficulty offered to sell the boiler and engine to him. The matter was finally adjusted by the tenant taking over the engine and boiler, and paying for them by an increase in rent amounting to £5 per annum. At the quarterly meeting which was held on 2nd June 1872 the balance-sheet was submitted to severe criticism, the ground of complaint being the smallness of the profit shown in view of the increasing sales of the Society. For the first time in the history of the Society the turnover had exceeded £2,000 for the quarter, but the surplus was only £119, and the dividend sixpence, while nothing was added to the reserve fund. The delegates to the quarterly meeting also combined to express considerable dissatisfaction with the quality, shape, and general appearance of the bread, and the committee were urged to take energetic measures to place the Society in a better position in this respect as well as in that of profit. At almost every meeting of the committee complaints were being made about the quality of the bread and lateness of delivery, and they were at their wits end to find a remedy. Discussions took place meeting after meeting about difficulties of delivery, varied every now and again by a discussion on the subject of the high rate of expense. Investigations into the cost of baking were set on foot, but with no results. A suggestion was made by Paisley Provident Society that the discount allowed to the societies be reduced from 10 per cent. to 7½ per cent. in order to cover losses in working,