Rushden Co-op Employees
Presentation to President at The Annual Tea

Yesterday the annual tea of the employees of the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society was held at the Co-operative Hall, about 160 employees and friends being present.

The president of the society, Mr G W Coles, J.P., presided, and extended a hearty welcome to the employees at that annual junction. He regretted the absence of a number of employees who were prevented from attending by indisposition. Reviewing events of the past year, Mr Coles said that the employees had worked together well and had done their best to make the jubilee year of the society a great success. He thanked them on behalf of the committee for the manner they had assisted, and he was glad to say that in spite of the industrial position the business of the society had been very satisfactory. He hoped that this year the society would reach the £150,000 trade figure at which they had aimed during the jubilee year. The relationship between the committee and the employees had always been of a most cordial nature, and he trusted that that would be maintained.

Mr Clark (manager of the Hove-road branch) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the committee. He said that that was not the time to talk “shop,” but he remembered that at the employees’ tea last year Mr Coles had urged them to put forth their best efforts for the jubilee, and he could say on behalf of the employees that they had done their best. They were very grateful to the committee, and appreciated their kindness very much.

Miss Penness (a member of the staff for a number of years) seconded the vote of thanks, which was carried with hearty applause.

Mr F Berrill (vice-president), in replying to the thanks on behalf of the committee, said that at the annual function they took stock of their progress. Mr Coles had commented on the cordial relations between the committee and employees, and he (the speaker) wondered where they could find better conditions of labour than existed in the Co-operative movement. After 21 years of service they received a gold watch, and that for a good going-on. (Laughter) They had regular hours of labour and a good wage, but there was a great number outside the Co-operative movement who were not privileged to have those benefits. It was up to them to try and give those people the benefits of Co-operation. Also, it was their duty to support those who did not get

Fair Conditions of Labour.

During the past year there had been a great struggle between the miners and the mine owners. The miners deserved practical encouragement, and particularly from Co-operative employees throughout the country. The miners’ conditions of labour were nothing like those in the Co-operative movement. He had heard of people speak in detrimental terms of the miners, and even refuse them help. He hoped that such a spirit as that would not prevail in 1927. (Hear, hear.)

Mr Berrill then presented, in an entirely original way, a mark of the society’s esteem for the work done by the president. Reading from a lengthy “document,” Mr Berrill stated that “a jury, court, and witnesses composed of the General and Educational Committees of the society had found that a certain person, to wit, George W Coles, had been found guilty of doing diverse acts calculated to further the interests of Rushden Co-operative Society and Co-operative movement” and he had great pleasure in presenting to Mr Coles a smoker’s cabinet in oak. (Applause)

Mr Coles, in reply, said that he had always done his best to further the interests of the society. It was 24 years since he was first elected to the committee of the society, and in 1912 he was first elected president.

A concert during the evening was much enjoyed, the artistes being Miss D Allen, Miss D Lickerish, Miss D Marriott, Mr J Cook (violinist), and Mr H (“Tiddler”) Smith. Dancing to music played by the Rushden Students’ Band took place, and games were played. Community singing during the concert proved a great success, and a merry time was spent. Fancy hats and novelties were distributed.