A Blantyre resident writes into the Hamilton Advertiser (in July 1892!) to complain about the Co-Op’s own staff putting up a boundary fence, rather than employing local Blantyre fencers.
“**Sir,—**Permit me through the columns of your popular and widely-circulated paper to make some little reference to the contemptible doings of the committee of the Blantyre Independent Co-Operative Society. It being necessary to have some two hundred yards of wooden palings laid so as to divide their own ground from that of the adjoining fields, it was generally believed by the rest of the members of the society that the committee would in all likelihood engage some experienced man, who was absolutely depending upon such sort of work for his livelihood.”
“But no; the committee, true to themselves, abandoned such an idea, and did perform the work to gain the paltry sum that was allotted for it, thus taking the loaf of bread out of their fellow-labourer’s mouth. They are all ardent reformers, and if such a grossly selfish act had been done by any other party, it would have caused them to sweat at the finger-ends, and their hair to stand like goose-quills at the bare idea; but it seems to be pardonable with them. I hope some spirited member will bring the question up at the first general meeting, and test whether or not such a despotic committee is to be allowed to bounce and boss the whole business at their sweet will.—Yours, &c.,LIVE AND LET LIVE“
