The Aberdare Leader

Cwmbach Co-operative Society. NEW PREMISES OPENED AT MISKIN COST .210,500, The Cwmbach Co-operative Society opened new premises at Miskin on Thursday last. The place had been gaily decorated and the opening ceremony was attended by hundreds of people. Mr Edward Howells, chairman of the Socie- ty, delivered a short address, and then called upon Mrs. Ann Williams, Cwm- bach, aged 87, the only living lady pioneer of tho Society, to declare the building open. This ceremony having been per- formed, she was presented by Mr. Henry IWilliams, manager of the Mountain Ash T> a-, ..aL Tcrr-l-i* <;n::J.wT- TIia massive silver key with which Mrs. Williams opened the door, bore the fol- lowing inscription: "Presented to Mrs. Ann Williams, Cwmbach, by the mem- bers of the Cwmbach Co-op. Society, on the opening of the new premises at Pen- rliweeiber, September 2nd, 1909." I MR. EVAN JONES, SECRETARY. I The people inspected the various shops and other rooms, and expressed them- selves highly delighted with everything. The building has an area of 6,000 sq. ft., and the length of the shops is 100 ft. In the basement there are grocery, boot and shoe department, outfitting, millin- ery, and butchering department, official packing stores. On the first floor are the ironmongery, furnishing, flour, and paper departments, workrooms, etc., at- tached. There is a corridor running al- most the length of the building. The second floor includes four store rooms and committee rooms. In connection with the building are a generating station, a six-stalled stable, and cart house, bakehouse, with two ovens, mix- ing-rooms, with electric motor-driving kneader, and hoist above, and gas-house with coal-house attached. The heating apparatus, which is on the low-pressure steam system, has been carried out by Messrs. Hampton and Co., Cardiff. The architect was Mr. T. Roderick, Aberdare, and the contractors Messrs. D. Davies and Son, Cardiff. Mr. J. E. Davies, Aberaman, was clerk of works. The manager of the new premises will be Mr. Isaac R. Jones, Penrhiwceiber. The cost of the new buildings amounted to < £ 10,500. Following the inspection of the pre- mises a luncheon was served at the Pen- rhiwceiber Institute, Mr. W. Hill, Aber- aman, catering. A toast list was gone through, Mr, T. Andrews, J.P., Treharris, proposing "The Co-operative Movement." Mr. J. F. James, C.W.S., Cardiff, re- sponded. Mr. T. Williams, ex-chairman of the Cwmbach Co-op. Society, proposed "The Builders and Architect." Mr. Davies, the builder, and Mr. T. Roderick, re- sponded. The Visitors" was submitted by Mr Rees Phillips, Cwmaman, and Messrs. G. Beadon, Cardiff and Pembro, replied. Mr. W. H. Bryant, secretary of the Western Section of the Co-op. Union, gave The Cwmbach Co-operative Socie- | ty." Mr. Evan Jones, secretary, in ac- knowledging, mentioned that in 1892 the turnover amounted to Y,26,000 per quar- ter, whereas the turnover for last quar- ter was < £ 98,438 10s. 4d. ADDRESS BY MR. LLEUFER THOMAS. A public meeting and concert were held in the evening at the Penrhiwcei- her Institute. Mr. Edward Howells, Aberaman, presided, and he was sup- ported by Mr. D. Lleufer Thomas, Sti- DPTidiarv Mj)P'i,,h.o nf P()ntyrn.;A.r1 anrf Rhondda, and Mr. Evan Jones, secretary of the Cwmbach Co-op. Society. The programme was opened by the Cwmbach Society Children's Choir, who gave a selection, entitled, "Ye Mariners of England." Mr. David Rees Davies conducted. NIr. Morgan Edwards, Mountain Ash, then sang "Watch with me to-night," and was heartily applauded. The Chairman delivered an address, in the course of which he said that this was a red letter day in the history of the Cwmbach Co-op. Society. They had erected fine premises. The Society had promised the members of Miskin and Penrhiwceiber some years ago that they would consider their appeal for the estab- lishment of a Branch in that place. The Society at once recognised that there was some force in that appeal, and therefore they decided first of all to open a branch pro. tem. at Penrhiwceiber, pending the erection of the premises which had been I formally opened that day. The turn- over at the old -Penrhiwceiber Branch was zES,000 a quarter. He hoped that when the new building had got into proper working order, they would have a turnover of over < £ 20,000 per quarter. (Applause.) The Chairman referred to the useful work performed by Mr Lleufer Thomas on behalf of the Co-op. move- ment. (Applause.) After a song, excellently rendered, by Mr. David Bowen, Aberaman, Mr. Lleufer Thomas was called upon to speak. Mr. Thomas, who had a cordial recep- tion, spoke both in Welsh and English. He was glad to unite with those present to celebrate the opening of such a magni- ficent pile of buildings. He had just glanced over the balance sheet of the Society, and had been simply appalled at the figures. He noticed that they had now over £ 100,000 capital, and an im- mense turnover. They had good reason to be proud of the fine structure they had raised, and he hoped the Society would celebrate their Jubilee next year in good I style. The co-operative principle was growing all over Wales and indeed throughout the United Kingdom. The share capital of the whole movement totalled £ 33,000,000. This served to show what the people could do by unity. (Ap- plause.) There were certain aspects of tho movement besides the business as- pect. It gave a discipline to the people and taught them how to govern them- selves. The Co-operative movement also provided a useful test upon the honesty of officials and committee men. This dis- cipline was of great value. They must remember, too,- that the movement was a perfectly voluntary one. Institutions which were purely voluntary had their disadvantages, but they had one great advantage: when they succeeded it was a lasting success. (Applause.) He was glad that the Society had a choir under He if lliero were any bards inside the movement, he would suggest that a few Welsh Co-operative Songs be composed and sung. Great movements had always been considerably helped by scngs. What would the churches be without hymns and singing? The Labour and Socialist Parties had drawn inspir- ation from song. "England Arise/' by Edward Carpenter, for instance, had .given a tremendous impetus to the labour movement. In conclusion Mr. Thomas referred to the virtue of thrift, and advocated the principle of co-oper- ation. Guardian Meth Davies, Cwmbach, in an interesting speech, moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Thomas for his very able address. This was seconded and carried amid enthusiasm. Messrs. Morgan Edwards and Ben Davies sang a duet, and Miss Mary Phil- lips gave a splendid solo. Another selection by the choir, and the National Anthem by Miss Mary Phillips, brought the meeting to a close.