Denaby Main Co-operative Tea

The annual tea and public meeting of the members and friends of the Denaby Main Industrial Co-operative Society was held in the new schoolroom (kindly lent by the colliery company for the purpose), on Monday evening last, when about 400 persons sat down to an excellent meat tea, with which all expressed great satisfaction for the way it was served. The tables were decorated with flowers and plants kindly supplied by Mr. Webb, whose collection is gaining great notoriety.

The following ladies presided at the tables—Mesdames Rose, Soar, Thompson, Turner, Cook, Hammond, Cramp, Dainty, Dixon, Barker, Hughes, Sylvester, and Misses Rose, Thompson, Houldsworth, Flockton, Dainty and Cramp, who were well supported by an efficient staff of waiters.

The attendance at the meeting, considering the heat of the weather, must be most satisfactory to the members, the large room being quite full. The chair was taken in an efficient manner by Mr. Rose, the treasurer of the society (in the absence of the president, Mr. Chambers), who gave an opening address full of interest to all concerned, and setting forth the advantages of co-operation in an admirable speech, especially referring to the prosperity of the Denaby Main society.

He was followed by Mr. Holmes, of Leeds, well-known in connection with the rise and development of co-operation, and in an able and stirring speech advocated the claims of all such movements to the hearty support of those whom it is intended to benefit.

Mr. S. Hall, president of the Mexboro’ Co-operative Society, who is always a favourite speaker in this neighbourhood, was heartily received, and certainly merited the thanks of the meeting for his logical thoughtful speech. He made special reference to the handsome dividend declared on the past quarter’s trading, being 2s. 6d. in the pound returned on all purchases. This he stated to be the same thing as an advance of 12½ per cent. on the wages of those dealing with the society.

The speeches were agreeably interspersed with songs and duets, which were rendered in an admirable manner. The following was the programme:—

Piano and violin duet — Mr. J. Beardsley and Mr. M. Soar
Song, “Killarney” — Miss White
Song, “Tricks of the trade” — Mr. Kilham
Duet, “Fanny Grey” — Miss Knowles and Mr. Taylor
Song, “My childhood’s home” — Miss Rose
Song, “Some day” — Miss White
Song, “Benefit of Co-operation” — Mr. Kilham
Song, “Shy Robin” — Miss Knowles
Song, “The British lion” — Mr. Taylor
Duet, “Huntingtower” — Miss Knowles and Mr. Taylor
Duet (violin and piano) — Mr. J. Beardsley and Mr. Soar
Reading — Mr. Taylor

At the conclusion of the meeting hearty votes of thanks were proposed to the speakers and singers, moved in well-chosen terms by Mr. Sykes, and seconded by Mr. Barker, and to the ladies who so kindly gave their assistance, by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Sylvester.

Mr. Rose then concluded the meeting by stating that the committee had resolved to give a free tea the following evening to all the old people in Denaby, which was received with loud applause. A vote of thanks to the Chairman then terminated a most pleasant and profitable evening.

In accordance with the resolution of the committee a free tea was given to about 50 old people of Denaby on Tuesday evening, after which they were entertained by kind friends with a concert with which they all expressed themselves highly gratified.