CHAPTER IV. - History of the Society.
1886.—As I remarked in Chapter III, the earlier records are very meagre, and it is not until the year 1886 that I can obtain sufficient details as to how the Society carried on its work to be of very great interest. The year 1886 was a progressive year for the Society. We find that the bakery business was growing and that the baker had exceeded an output of six sacks per week. It was agreed to pay him a bonus of 2s. 6d. per sack for all flour converted into bread over six sacks and he was to find the labour. In September of the same year it was considered desirable to erect a butcher's shop and employ a practical man. The tender was let to Messrs. Cooper & Rivett at a cost of £292, and a practical butcher engaged.

1887.—The duties of the Committee must have become more arduous during these progressive times and the members realised this. They voted them an increase of threepence per meeting, i.e., from 6d. to 9d. The minute does not record whether this was a Committee's recommendation or no. The voting for the Committee at this period was carried out by the use of coloured marbles and a purchase of 2½ gross of these is recorded. Our Productive Society brethren in the village were in need of extra capital at this time, and it was decided to invest £100 as Loan Capital with them.

The coal business was the only new venture undertaken during the year.

1888.—In years gone by it was considered good policy to have the employees handy for their work, consequently we find the workers' homes huddled around the factories. The Committee seem to have fallen in with this idea, consequently a house was purchased opposite the bakehouse for the baker to live in. Owing to the development of the coal business, it became essential to the successful carrying on of this business to build stables and a coal shed. These two items cost £324. Apparently capital was coming in too fast for its absorption by the Society, and this caused the Committee to restrict share contributions to £5 per quarter. In order to safeguard the Society from losses through leakages in goods and diminution of Share Capital by total withdrawals the adoption of a leakage system and the enforcement of a transferable share for each member was proposed, but the members refused to adopt these suggestions.

1889.—The business must have been going ahead at this period, for the Committee found it necessary to increase the insurance on stock from £360 to £900.

1890.—The January Balance Sheet of this year disclosed a reduction in the dividend of 4d. in the £, i.e., from 2s. to 1s. 8d. This caused the members to demand the presence of the Auditor at all future quarterly meetings. The Society (jointly with the N.P.S.) invited the Kettering and Wellingborough District Conference Association to hold its next district conference at Wollaston. It is said, "there is nothing new under the sun;" this seems to have been borne out by the fact that a clothing, furniture, coal, &c., club was formed by this Society in the year 1890. Now, in the year 1926, we have introduced to us as something new in clubs, the Mutuality Club. The system in vogue in 1890 is very little different to the Mutuality system of 1926.

1891.—The Committee evidently soon regained their lost prestige due to the reduced dividend of the previous year, and we find the members gave them power to subscribe any sum up to two pounds to any worthy object without applying to the members. During the earlier years of the Society's existence inexperienced labour was considered good enough, but the Committee had had such a surfeiting of this that they decided to employ a practical man to manage the store. It was also decided to give the employees a few hours respite from their labours each week and the stores were closed at 4 p.m. on Thursdays, and 12 noon on Bank Holidays. The Society became an annual subscriber to the Northampton Hospital in 1883 to the extent of three guineas. This was now increased to six guineas.

1892.—The drapery department was brought more up-to-date at a cost of £53 to meet the increasing needs of the members. At this stage of the Society's career the method of management by Committee, with a part-time secretary, seems to have outgrown its usefulness and practicability, consequently the secretary was dissatisfied and resigned. A meeting of members was called to hear Mr. Meadows, of Finedon, discourse on the advantages of employing a permanent official, viz. A General Manager and Secretary. The members decided to appoint a permanent official and they were very wise in their choice. They elected their part-time secretary. Mr. J. W. Page, to fill the dual office, and he carried out the exacting duties entailed for 24 years with great credit to himself and with success to the Society.

1893.—This year seems to mark the commencement of a number of good years for the Society. Increases are shown all round.

1894.—The Committee, realising the necessity for allotments decided to purchase a field off the Hinwick Road. This was split up into plots and sold to the members. Sales during this year exceeded £10,000, and an average dividend of 2s. 4¾d. in the £ was paid.

1895.—The Society was now getting an accumulation of surplus capital, which it was found difficult to find a profitable outlet for, and it was decided to invest some of this capital in cottage property. Ten cottages in Hinwick Road were purchased; the gardens were enlarged out of the field previously purchased, and workshops were erected.

Cottages	Cattle in the field - "The Moors" bought in 1896

1896.—On February 1st of this year it was decided to form an Educational Committee and establish an educational fund to be built up out of 1 per cent of the net. profits each half year. The Committee consisted of Mr. A. W. Partridge, Mr. J. Green, Mr. S. Partridge, Mr. J. Catlin, Mr. T. A. Nutt, Mr. W. Speight, and Mr. Caleb Wright. The question of grazing our horses, beast, and sheep was next considered and a field known as 'The Moors' was purchased for this purpose.

1897.—In the autumn of this year a co-operative choir was formed, and under the able conductorship of Mr. H. H. Speight it reached such a high state of perfection that it carried off the shield at the co-operative festival, held at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1901.

The Society had a further "dabble'' in land in October of this year, this time part of the Victoria Estate, some of which was retained for building cottages and the other sold to our members and the Northamptonshire Productive Society, Ltd.

1898.—In order to encourage members to become house owners instead of house renters, it was decided to advance money to members on freehold property at 4½ per cent per annum, to the extent of three-fourths of the total cost of the property. This was taken up by a good number of our members who now feel grateful to the Society for the assistance so given. The membership had now reached 500.

1899.—Six cottages were erected for the Society and are known as Beehive Cottages. The road in which they are built is called Holyoake Road in memory of that well-known, grand old fearless co-operator, G. J. Holyoake.

1900.—The Northamptonshire Productive Society had, by November of this year, nearly completed its new factory, consequently, the premises they would shortly be vacating were "on sale." With a minimum of alteration these premises were found to be eminently suitable for a bakehouse, and as the Society was in need of a bakehouse they bought the building. This building carries a stone engraved with the letters "E.V.N.," which stands for Edward Vansittart Neale, who was the first general secretary of the Co-operative Union, Ltd., and a man whose name is held in the highest esteem by co-operators the world over, as a pioneer of Co-operation, both productive and distributive. Propaganda was carried out during the year at Grendon and a number of members secured. Alterations to the butchery department were carried out at a cost, of £465, and a branch bakehouse opened in High Street. This was a very progressive year for the Society.

1901.—In August of this year the Society held a very successful sale and exhibition of C.W.S. productions.

1902.—This was the year in which private traders tried to boycott Co-operative Societies all over the country. This Society contributed 25 guineas to the defence fund. The boycott does not appear to have affected the progress of the Society, proof of which can be seen by referring to the table of progress at the end of this history.

1903.—Membership had now reached 536, sales £17,132, and a dividend of 2s. 6d. in the £ maintained throughout the year.

1904.—In order to enable the Committee to obtain a better grip of the Society's departmental activities, sub-committees were appointed for grocery, drapery, butchery, and bakery. On November 5th, the quarterly meeting agreed to alter the system of voting, i.e., from marbles to ballot.

1905.—The bakery business was now progressing so favourably that it became necessary to install new ovens. The number of loaves baked during the, year was 209,123, which was an increase of 8,859.

1906.—The high cost of hiring wagons for conveying coal from the collieries to the Wellingborough Station caused the Committee to purchase two wagons of their own. Owing to several societies being prosecuted by a Soap Combine the members passed a resolution which reads as follows: "None other than the soaps manufactured by C.W.S. shall be stocked in our shops."

1907.—A contract for 400 tons of house coal was entered into at 10s. 6d. per ton, pit; to-day (in normal times) (The coal strike is now on (September, 1926), and available supplies are fetching exorbitant prices.) it is more than three times the price. The membership at Bozeat was growing and it was decided to deliver goods there. By the end of this year the Society had created a record in sales. The turnover for the year was £18,414, which sum was not again reached until 1916. The reserve fund had now reached £400.

1908.—There seems very little of historical interest to record during this year. The Society seems to have been consolidating its position.

1909.—To mark the entry of the Old Age Pensions Act into the Statute Book, a free tea and entertainment was given to all the people in the village over the age of 70 years. By the end of this year the share capital of the Society had reached £14,166.

1910.—It was found necessary to increase the accommodation in the drapery and grocery departments. It was decided to convert the old bakehouse in Thrift Street into a grocers' shop and add the old grocery shop to the drapery.

1911.—This was Coronation Year, and the Society celebrated the event by giving a mug suitably inscribed to each child attending the festivities. At the November quarterly meeting the Committee recommended, "That we take stock half-yearly and that we employ a public auditor." This was carried with only one dissentient.

1912.—The coal strike at the commencement of this year gave the Committee some little anxiety, and available supplies were rationed to the members. For some time previous to this, it had been found necessary to ren a field for grazing purposes. This field, known as "Home Close," was offered to the Society to purchase. After a fair amount of negotiating it was acquired for £700. In December of this year it was decided to adopt the Climax Check system. Having heard the advantages of this system over the metallic check system the Committee decided in its favour. Few would care to go back to the old system of changing checks during the quarter and bringing in their £1 checks for dividend.

1913.— During the night of June 13th of this year the Society had a visit from an uninvited guest, who got away with the contents of two tills. The membership had now reached 600.

1914.—A resolution which savoured of municipal and general elections had been passed at the previous half-yearly meeting, and candidates for the Committee had to run the gauntlet in much the same manner as our Councillors and M.P.'s. A special meeting of members was called which the candidates addressed, and questions were put and answered. The only difference seems to have been that the candidates were thanked for attending. Our trade at Bozeat having grown considerably, and partly in compliance with the wishes of the Co-operative Union, a shop was rented and opened on July 20th. Shortly after this all the horrors of war were upon us; a state of panic existed as to food supplies; the employees were joining the colours; and the manager and Committee had a very anxious time indeed.

1915.—By this time a number of Belgian refugees (who had been rendered homeless by the war) were billeted in Wollaston. In order to show our sympathy with them it was decided to grant them free bread during their stay. The war had already made a marked difference in the prices of commodities, and War Bonuses on wages had become necessary. The autumn budget caused a further jump in prices of certain essential commodities, and a special meeting was called to revise prices. Things generally seem to have run anything but smoothly during this year, but the climax was reached when the secretary and manager, Mr. J. W. Page, found it necessary to resign his position. To lose such a valuable servant at this stage of the Society's career must have seemed to the Committee almost as the "last straw."

1916.—It was on January 3rd of this year that, the writer of this narrative became officially connected with this Society as its manager and secretary. Although I came as a stranger to Wollaston I was no stranger to the Co-operative Movement, having been a co-operative servant for over 18 years at the time of my appointment. You will readily agree that I came to you at a very difficult time as far as the carrying on of a large and varied business is concerned, as the following chapters will show. The clamour for more men for the army, coupled with the shortage of foodstuffs and the D.O.R.A. regulations, made the new position almost unbearable, and I am more than grateful for the loyal support I have received from Wollaston co-operators, Management Committee, and the staff, during the whole of my term of office. I am delighted with the way the business has steadily increased and our financial position gradually arid consistently improved, as the following figures reveal:-

Year ended January	Membership	Trade	Capital	Reserves
		£	£	£
1916	666	20,912	16,914	420
1926	1,258	53,184	42,065	2,000

Higher prices account for some of the increased trade, but even allowing for this, I think I am justified in reporting progress. I believe the population of the district in which our Society operates is less than it was 10 years ago. This being so, the results are all the more satisfactory. On February 2nd we were reluctantly compelled to close our branch butchery department owing to the scarcity of labour. The danger from enemy aircraft was now fully realised and all the Society's property was insured against this risk. Trouble arose with three heads of departments and their services were dispensed with. This was a bold policy to pursue, as, owing to the scarcity of male labour these positions were difficult to fill, but it was afterwards proved to be the right policy. By May of this year our male grocery staff had dwindled to one, the remainder being girls. The branch bakery had to be closed owing to scarcity of male labour. In order to simplify the bakery deliverers' work, tokens for bread were introduced. The members evidently realised that the Committee's duties were heavier, and by resolution of the August half-yearly meeting their fees were increased 25 per cent.

1917.— Owing to the tremendous drain on the country's resources at this period, the government were on the look-out for new sources of revenue. The private traders knew of this, arid they were not behindhand in suggesting that the savings of co-operators be taxed. At our February half-yearly meeting a resolution was passed against any such imposition on the already taxed working classes. Early in the year Grendon had been looked upon as a likely place for a branch shop. Various premises were visited and the branch was opened on April 16th. Food stuff was now getting scarce and sugar was rationed at half pound per head. It became illegal to sell bread under 24 hours old. In October a milk business was purchased and the Society launched out on quite a new venture. There were very few Co-operative societies retailing milk at this time.

1918.—A minute dated January 15th reads as follows: Resolved, "That we agree to put potatoes in bread ; this is done at the request of the Food Controller." Resolved, "That owing to the scarcity of all kinds of fats the manager interview the Food Control Committee." At the half-yearly meeting the following resolution was passed and forwarded to the proper quarter: "That this meeting of Co-operators, representing 800 families, herewith protests against the unsatisfactory distribution of articles that are in short supply, and calls upon the Government to ration these goods in the same manner in which sugar is rationed, in order to ensure equitable distribution to rich and poor alike." There are numerous other minutes dealing with short supplies of goods, but it was not until Lord Rhondda and Mr. J. R. Clynes undertook food control that we got anything like satisfactory distribution. One good step the Society took during these troublous times was the initiating of a Scholarship Scheme (jointly with the N.P.S.). This scheme has been a splendid help to our young co-operators, and no doubt its benefits will be revealed "after many days." What with the shortages of food and fuel; appeals for army exemption for the staff; and restrictions galore, the records for this year read more like a nightmare than anything else. There was one event happened during the year which more than compensated for all the inconveniences we had been put to; I refer to the termination of the most horrible war ever experienced. This was brought about by an Armistice at 11a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

1919.—The first branch shop at Bozeat, which was only rented by us, was now found to be unsuitable for our growing trade, and more commodious premises were secured and purchased. Plans were drawn up for extensive alterations, but these had to be pigeon-holed on account of the exorbitant price of building materials. Up to this period the whole of our transport had been done by horse haulage. The time was now considered opportune to reorganise on mechanical lines. It was therefore decided to purchase a steam lorry for coal haulage and a motor for goods delivery. On August nth the members decided to adopt the Collective Life Assurance Scheme. This scheme is considered by many members to be the best thing the Society ever adopted. There is certainly one good thing to be said in its favour and that is that it helps to meet a want when that help is most needed.

Bozeat branch

1920.— The bakery ovens, built in 1905, had been giving us a lot of trouble for some time past, and it was decided to enlarge the bakehouse and install two up-to-date steam pipe ovens. A freehold property, consisting of a modern grocer's shop, two dwellings, and bank premises, situate at the corner of High Street and London Road, came in the market and this was bought by the Society for £1,500. The grocer's shop is now an up-to-date furnishing and hardware department. The average weekly turnover at this period had now reached £1,100, and it was now considered essential to provide better means of protecting the cash and securities. It was therefore agreed that a strong room be erected adjoining the general office. The model rules of the Co-operative Union were adopted. During the latter part of 1920 trade began to slacken and prices of all commodities were still very high. To alleviate the distress caused thereby, the Committee decided to give a special discount to members of one penny in the £ on all purchases from November 15th to December 3oth. This reduced the profit disposable in January, 1921, by £700, but it temporarily relieved the situation somewhat.

Some of the vehicles

1921.—Having disposed, of most of the horses, we had now very little use for the field in Cobbs Lane. The taxation of this field, too, was considered by the Committee to be out of all reason compared with similar land in the village, so it was decided to sell. It has been said that, as a rule, a reduced dividend always produces a large attendance at the half-yearly meeting. That Wollaston is no exception to the rule was proved conclusively at the half-yearly meeting held in February of the year under review. The room in which we usually held our meetings was packed to suffocation, consequently another larger room had to be requisitioned. The members had evidently forgotten that they had already received £700 by way of discount on their purchases from November 15th to December 30th, thus reducing the dividend from 1s. 6d. to 1s. 1d. in the £. When this fact had been explained a better feeling prevailed. We were now feeling the effects of the aftermath of war. This period will go down to history as the great slump period. Unemployment was rife, wages were falling, the values of stocks were rapidly decreasing, and hundreds of well-established businesses ended their career in the bankruptcy courts during a very short space of time. Nevertheless, we were fortunate in being able (owing to the provision of adequate reserves) to meet all demands and pay a dividend of 1s. 3d. in the £ in August and 1s. 4d. the following half year. The confectionery department was opened on October 24th.

1922.—The Society had now been in existence 46 years, and in order to celebrate the jubilee it was decided to start a fund for that purpose. Twenty pounds was voted by the members to form the nucleus of such a fund. The value of money from an investor's standpoint, was much lower than it had been, consequently the rate of interest on shares was reduced from 5 per cent to 4! per cent. By the end of this year our Reserve Fund had reached the sum of 1,000.

1923.— In March of this year plans were prepared for extensive alterations to our Bozeat premises. The sales at this branch had now reached £6,500 per annum. The branch was officially opened on September 22nd, by the President (Mr. J. F. Catlin), who, in the course of his remarks, appealed for a trade of £200 per week at the branch. This achievement has now been accomplished.

1924.—In order to keep our members better posted up in things co-operative, we decided to issue a monthly magazine called the Wheatsheaf. This magazine, we find, serves the purpose well, and is much appreciated by the members. This was a very successful year for the Society. The worst of the slump period was over and trade had begun to pursue its normal course. There was an increase of £3,300 in sales; £5,000 in share capital; £642 in surplus; 2d. in the £ dividend; and £476 in reserve.

1925.—Early this year we lost our faithful friend and colleague, Mr. Jesse Cooper. He had 26 years of continuous service on the Society's Committee to his credit and a record of appreciation of faithful services rendered to the Society is entered in the minutes. A desire having been expressed (by our members resident at the church end of the village) for a butcher's shop nearer their homes, it was decided to open a shop to meet their wishes. Several attempts were made during the year to get a branch of another co-operative productive society established, in Wollaston, but our efforts were of no avail.

Furnishing & Hardware

1926.—We have now arrived at the year of Jubilee. At the February half-yearly meeting a Committee was formed to carry out the festivities. This Committee consisted of the General Committee, the Educational Committee, the Women's Guild Committee, and two members of the staff. Furniture had been retailed by the Society for a good number of years, but owing to lack of showroom very little was sold. The time was now considered opportune to launch out in this direction, and a furnishing department was added to the already existing hardware department. So far, this venture has been very successful. We have always endeavoured to keep abreast of the times. When electricity became available from the main we were the first people in the village to use it. When the people recognised the intrinsic value of a pure, clean milk supply we were the only people in the place to provide it. On October ist, the old system of selling milk from open buckets was discontinued and the new system of selling Pasteurised Milk in sealed bottles adopted. It is said that "coming events cast their shadows before," but as there are no 'shadows' at the time of writing we should be foolish to assume that there are no coming events in connection with our progressive Society.

Co-op Productive badge

Our President - Mr. John Followell Catlin. Mr John F Catlin President SOME people have the natural gift of being pleasant and amiable. One of those who possess these enviable gifts is our President (John Followell Catlin). Under the most difficult and trying circumstances you will generally find "John" (as he is familiarly called) come smiling through. He is a Wollaston-born man, and as a boy (to use his own words) he was a "little tartar," and school had little or no attraction for him. He commenced work at the early age of seven, and he has been at work almost ever since for the same employer the whole period. He became interested in the Society soon after its inception; was elected on the, Committee in 1881, and became President in 1886. Except for a 12 months' interval he has been President ever since—surely a record for the whole of the Co-operative Movement. It has been a great advantage to our Society to have been able to retain his services for such a long time. A President's responsibility is always great, especially when a Society is in its infancy and launching out in new enterprises. Our President is a man who has always realised his responsibility to the full. Co-operation to him comes next to his religious beliefs. Having been connected with the Society for over 45 years he has been able to give the Society such counsel and example as have won him the esteem and confidence of his colleagues. He is a man of many parts. There are very few activities connected with the village of his birth—either religious, philanthropic, or public utility of which our esteemed President takes no active part. Active, and strenuous as his life has been, and still is, Mr. Catlin is vigorous in body and alert in mind. His heart is in all that tends to the welfare of the class to which he belongs, and they must be all the better for his having been among them. Need we say more of any man? I. W.

	Rushden Echo, 24th July 1925 Wollaston Mr F L Hornby, of Desborough, has been appointed manager of the Northants Productive Boot Society.
Northamptonshire Productive Society premises

An Interesting Enterprise in Industrial Democracy. The Northamptonshire Productive Society Ltd., more familiarly known as the "N.P.S.," is an interesting local enterprise in industrial democracy. This Society was registered in the year 1881, and is, therefore, the oldest co-operative boot productive Society in the kingdom. The moving spirits were the late Edward Vansittart Neale and the late Hodgson Pratt; these two co-operative worthies being the largest individual shareholders up to the time of their death. The Northamptonshire Productive Society previously owned and occupied the building now used by the distributive society as a bakehouse. The business rapidly progressed and outgrew the capacity of the building, consequently the present up-to-date factory was built and occupied in 1901. The relationship between the N.P.S. and the "distributive" has always been intimate and cordial. As an indication of this I might mention that, in conjunction with the "distributive" a Joint Scholarship Scheme is run, whereby they send annually children of the members of either society to secondary schools that they may be more adequately equipped for their future careers. The turnover for the year 1925 exceeded £26,000. On the welfare side of the business there is in operation a Sickness Benefit Scheme which is much appreciated by the workers. There is also in operation an Old-Age Pension Scheme, and being a co-partnership society the profits are divided between Labour, Trade, and Capital. We are glad to be able to include in our history these few observations of such a successful local co-operative enterprise.