Netherthong Cooperative Society Part 2

A Memory of Netherthong.

In March 1893, plans were approved to alter and enlarge the shop premises. The manager applied for a reduction in the working hours of the employees and this was granted. The store will be closed at 7pm instead of 8pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and at 8pm instead of 9pm on Sundays.
In September of the same year the Chairman reported on the alterations. A cottage next door had been annexed and fitted up as a drapery department. The grocery department had been improved by widening it, raising the ceiling and putting in new fixtures. The partition walls dividing the rooms on the 1st. and 2nd. floors were pulled out. The cellars had been enlarged and improved. A hoist had been fitted at the back for winding up corn etc. Finally hot water apparatus had been laid down and the whole place painted and renovated.

September 1894 - they started up a clothing club.

In September 1898 arrangements were made for the early formation of a penny savings bank. Initial membership was 190.

May 1900. Cllr. Alsop - President - and Mr. Senior - manager - explained to the members details relating to the recent robberies at the stores and it was decided to replace the money from the reserve fund. The officials were exonerated from blame.
Holmfirth & District Co-op Boot and Shoe Society Ltd. Included Hinchcliffe Mill, Wooldale, Netherthong and Hepworth. The directors from NT were J.Settle and W.Dufton. The total receipts were 796 17s 10d and the NT share was 116 14s 6d.

July 1902 - it was finally agreed after many meetings to set up a butchery in one of the outbuildings.

1916. At the half yearly general meeting in February , Nathan Sandford, vice-president, reported that sales and profits were the highest in the history of the society.

1917. Committee members to be paid 6d. for each meeting. Check clerk wages increased from 3 to 4 per half-year.

1919.Committee members to be paid 1/- per meeing. It was agreed that the Union had the right to negotiate for members.

1927. The Society sold their farm and 3 cottages at Deanhouse.

1928. The new butcher's shop was completed.

1929. Reading through the minutes of the meetings there were frequent references by the chairman to be 'loyal'.

1937. They purchased the Queen's Arms public house and after renovations and alteration rented it out as a private dwelling.

1941. The Express of April 5 reported that Mr. Jabez Hoyle, J.P., was retiring after 55 years as an official of Wooldale Ind. & Equitable Co-operative Society Ltd. He was born in Newsome in 1860 but moved soon afterwards to NT where he grew up and lived until his marriage. He went to the National School and at the age of 14 he was employed as the only assistant to the manager at the NT Co-op. After 3 years at the age of 17 he was appointed the shop manager at Wooldale.

In 1940 sales were 9,970 with a profit of 1,239 and a membership of 375. In 1960, membership was 709 and sales 26,999.

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