The South Wales Star

BARRY DISTRICT GROCERS' I ASSOCIATION DINNER. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING AT THE VICTORIA HOTEL. The first annual dinner in connection with the B\1"ry District Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association was held on Friday evening last at the Assembly-room of the Victoria Hotel, Holton-road, B irry Dock, when, notwithstanding the fact that the organisation has been in existence only a few months, the company numbered fully sixty, con- sisting of the leading tradespeople of the town, in addition to a number of commercial gentlemen from Cardiff and a sumptuous dinner was laid upon the table by the respected host and hostess, Mr and Mrs E. Williams, the following being the ..enu SOUP. Mock Turtle. Ox Tail. FISH. Turbot and Anchovy Sauce. Filets de Sole Frits. ENTREE. Jugged Hare. REMOVES. Roast Beef. Boiled Leg of Mutton. Roast Chicken. Roast Pork. Roast Goose and Apple Sauce. Boiled Hams. VEGETABLES. Brussels Sprouts. Mashed Parsnips. Savoyg. Potatoes. SWEETS. Plum Pudding. Mince Pies. Apple Tart. Jellies. Blancmanges. CHEESE. CELERY. The President of the Association (Mr B. Lewis. Cadoxton) occupied the chair, and he was sup- ported by Messrs J. M. Curnow (known by the happy sobriquet of the Invincible "). representa- tive of Messrs Hodgson and Simpson, of Wake- field W. Griffith, Royal Stores, Cardiff, president of the Cardiff Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association C. S. Harrison, representative of Messrs Willer and Riley, Cardiff; R. Lambert, member of the committee of the Cardiff Associa- tion 0. H. F. Lambert, Cardiff; W. J. Jenkins, -Cardiff; Walter Williams. Carr and Company, Carlisle T. Williams, Evans and Company, Barry; E. Jones, Evans and Company. Barry Dock; Walter H. Bosven. Messrs W. Evans and Company. Cardiff; Ernest A. Hann, Messrs J. Haine and Sons, Cardiff B. Lewis and C. H. Lewis, Cadox- ton J. Westall, Cadoxton A. Young, Barry; E. J. Okey, Messrs H. H. and S. Budgett. Bristol; It. Ankers, bootmaker, Barry D. Iestyn Jones. Barry D. Farr, Barry: G. H. Woodfield, Cadox- ton W. L. Meredith, Cadoxton G. Barnes, Barry; J. D. Watson. Barry; F. Maizey, Cadoxton: J. Spickett, Cadoxton J. H. Davies, Barry-road; T. Phillips. Cadoxton J. Slocombe, Main-street A. Grey. Barry-road F. H. Turner, Holton-road I. T. Dando, Cadoxton; J. Jones, Golden Key, Holton-road James Jones, Holton-road A. D. Ashford. Messrs Edwards and Company, London T. Walters, Crown Stores, Cadoxton J. David, Porthcawl; R. Roderick, Port Talbot; J. Evans, Blackwood S. Turner, Messrs Willer and Riley, Cardiff J. Beckworth, Barry C. Whaler. Barry- foad R. 0. Jones. Westminster Stores (the able secretary of the Barry Grocers' Association) J. M. Davies. Holton-road; J. Evans, Barry; P. Lennox, Holton-road W. Jones, Barry J. Price Barry Dock T. G. Tibbetts, Ceylon House, Barry Dock W. H. Burrough, Thompson-street; W. B. Gardiner, Thompson-street; J. L. Davies, Messrs Griffin and Davies, Barry and Cadoxton J. M. Curnow, Messrs Steward and Young, Glasgow J. R. Llewellyn, editor Barry Dock Ncics; See. The banquet having been thoroughly enjoyed, the j tables ware cleared for the convivial gathering. and the president read a letter of apology from 1-1 y Messrs Cooper and Williams, of the Hayes Build- ings, Cardiff, expressing regret at their inability to attend. The toast list opened with the health of the Queen and Royal Family, Mr Lewis, in submitting the same, stating that her Majesty havinsr just demonstrated in such a practical and unmistak- able manner her partiality for the Welsn people and Welili music by inviting the Welsh Ladies' Choir to Osborne, it was the duty of the Welshmen to testify in return by their loyalty that they appreciated the special privilege conferred upon the Principality—(Cheers)—the company receiving the toast with great enthusiasm, and all united in ] singing the national anthem. The Chairman next proposed The Ministers i of Reli-ion." which was responded to in a very i effective manner by Mr T. Walters. Cadoxton, who < said that there was a peculiar kinship between the ] ministers of the gospel in the district and the i grocers' association, the one making provision for < the spiritual and moral needs of the community, < and the other providing for its temporal wants. i (Cheers.) u s Mr C. Whaler submitted, and Mr r. Lennox responded to, the toast of The Trade of the District," both gentlemen remarking upon the depression which had prevailed around Barry for same time, but expressed a confident hope that the silver lining of the cloud had at last been seen, and that with the early commencement of the new dock the district would enjoy a long period of prosperity. (Applause.) Mr W. Griffith, president of the Cardiff Grocers' Association, in submitting the toast of the evening, that of Success to the Barry District Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association," delivered a practical speech, in the course of which he said that inasmuch as charity began at home it was the duty of the members of the association to combine to the utmost for the furtherance of their mutual interests. He would advise the associa- tion, therefore, not to attach too much importance to the necessity of discussing the question of the prices of goods. If the members disagreed with each other in this manner he feared it would have he effect of seriously prejudicing the interests of he association. What they wanted was to secure e enrolment of every grocer in the district, and i those who cut" the prices could be per- ed to act reasonably towards themselves and brother tradesmen. Let them raise the tion at Barry to the highest pitch possible. and not quarrel with each other about prices. If -°., 111. 11 11' cney continued to ao tnis ne naa no Hesitation in flaying they were levelling a death blow to the association instead of promoting and enhancing its welfare. He also condemned the practice on the part of grocers of advertising other people's goods. Let them advertise their own goods, and then they weuld find that their business would be far more profitable to them. Let them make for themselves a name, and not crowd their windows with show cards which only tended to make a name for other people at the expense of their own. He had been watching their movements carefully, and he hoped they would not become a shipwreck in Barry upon the question of prices. If a man was worth joining an association at all he would not be dictated to unnecessarily by members of the trade, in fact, the association was not intended for that purpose. Let them hold interesting meet- ings, and have attractive discussions, and then bring members together and weld the trade in the district into one common bond of brotherhood. The great object of life was happiness. Some people thought this was to be obtained by making money. Bit it was a mistake they should en- deavour to secure the co-operation and good feel- ing of all. and then, he had no doubt, the associa- tion would prove a great success. As president of the Cardiff Association, and one who had endeavoured to foster the interests of the trade, he would advise the members of the young associa- tion at Barry to beware of the rock upon which they threatened to come to grief. If they wished the association to be a source of usefulness to them let them look carefully after the Acts of Parlia- ment which were being passed affecting the trade, and specially to consider the terms of the Adulteration Act. In Cardiff they were going to I have a pi t.t" glass insurance society in connection with the association, and this, he was of opinion, would prove of great advantage to the members. At Cardiff, also, they had decided upon establish- ing a grocers' exchange, a movement which would place them on an equality with Glasgow, Liver- pool, and other leading place in the country. Mr Griffith concluded by urging the members not to go too minutely into details, but conduct their proceedings in as useful and advantageous a manner as possible. (Cheers.) Mr Curnow, senr., supported the toast in a very happy and telling speech. He was present that evening, he said, in response to a kind invitation sent to him. and he was very glad, indeed, that he had accepted the fame. There was a great deal to be done in a rising town like 3arry. He was not going to discourage the members of the association at all. On the contrary, he would like to say something by way of advice which would help them to go forward with continued prosperity. He was very glad to see a gentleman of such prominence and importance in the district as their esteemed president kindling the chair that evening, and he congratulated the association upon the appointment of Mr Lewis. He was very glad to find that the friends at Barry managed their business affairs in a manner that reflected great credit upon themselves and upon the district. His advice to the members would be the old Cornish one of "Pull together, boys "-(cheers)- for by pulling together they could hope to brinj about desirable results which, otherwise, would be quite impossible. Let friendship also continue in their midst, for that was the hive from which they could extract the sweetest honey. Nearly all the tradesmen present were young men-full of energy and promise—and he had no doubt that. by and bye, they would develope into prosperous tradespeople. To accomplish this let them con- duct their business upon the highest principles possible, for unless they did mind their business in a proper manner they could not hope to succeed. By a system of friendship and implicit trust in each other, and by depending upon their own brains and drawing strength from this, they would, he had no doubt, become a great power in the district, and their children, yet unborn, would bless the day when the Barry Grocers' Association was established. (Cheers.) The President, in response, said Mr Griffith had been careful to dwell at length upon what the association should not do, but he had been equally careful not to say what the association should do. He strongly maintained that the members were fully justified in dealing with the question of prices at their meetings. In fact, he felt this was one of the principal objects of the association. He would say. however, that the members had not been wrangling in any way over the question of cutting in prices, but had simply discussed each case on its merits, and endeavoured to bring about » satisfactory understanding in this respect. (Hear, hear.) The association had been careful not to put up the prices of goods, but rather to bring about a satisfactory arrangement whereby one man would not undersell to the detriment of himself and his neighbour. (Hear, hear.) If the members of the Barry Association continued to act as they had done hitherto they would manage their association very satisfactorily. He strongly advocated fair trading and fair prices, and although they could not always fix the prices of goods they surely could do something whereby they would not sell anything at a loss. He dis- approved of the practice of sending carts from Cardiff to Barry for trading purposes, and urgad that those of their Cardiff neighbours who traded upon the Barry district should be called upon to pay towards the rates and taxes of the district. (Cheers.) The Barry Association bad been formed on the highest and purest principles possible, and he hoped they would continue in the endeavour to disseminate a feeling of social and friendly intercourse. (Applause.) Mr J. Beckworth also responded, and said he was pleased to state there were only three or four tradesmen in the district who had not joined the association. (Hear, hear.) He was of opinion that the association had been remarkably success- ful during the short period of its existence. They had no desire whatever to lead Cardiff, but they were determined, if possible, to follow Cardiff. (Hear, hear.) The Barry tradesmen did not wish to be unfriendly to Cardiff, but he did hope that the Cardiff tradesmen in return would not inter- fere unduly with the trade of Barry. After point- ing out the necessity for unity, Mr Beckworth expressed an opinion that the success of the Barry Association depended largely upon the degree of unity and brotherly love which would pervade the meetings. (Hear, hear.) Songs were then effectively rendered by Mr J. Evans and Mr Jones. Mr W. H. Burrough proposed "The Visitors," and expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing so many gentlemen present in obedience to the invita- tion of the committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr C. S. Harrison was the first to respond. He hoped, he said, that the Barry Grocers' Association would continue to flourish. There was one thing, however, which he particularly wished to call their attention to, and that was the urgent necessity of taking steps to approach the local J railway authorities for the more expeditious 4 transit of goods from Cardiff to Barry. At] present, he said, it was not at all an unusual thing Æ '.or goods to take two or three days to come from Cardiff to Barry and unless the railway company 1 jatered more efficiently for the public in this 1 respect he would advise the tradesmen to adopt lome other means of obtaining their goods. (Hear, lear.) MR .TOMAA 1).n.o. ON 1/1 Via ".0.140 I +• NN J. ¿. 1~ — VU1M«9 k. Hl/O nC8I,.U uc I.If;¡.LU .LV AU UUUUUl tu UQ called upon to respond to this toast. He was not a grocer himself, but he was convinced that com- bination in this manner tended considerably to the advancement of trade in general. Song, Mr W. H. Burroughs. Mr Ashford, Penarth, proposing the toast of "The President," congratulated the company upon having so competent a chairman, Mr Lewis' affability and general courtesy rendering him extremely popular in the district-(hear, hear) -and in their president the association had a gentleman of whom they could well be proud. (Cheers.) He (Mr Ashford) was the oldest repre- sentative of the grocery trade in South Wales, and the changes which he had seen in this and other districts in the Principality were very remarkable indeed. Barry, for instance, a few years ago was a small thinly-populated village, but now it teemed with energetic and persevering young men, who were determined to go forward and take their places amongst the leading business men in the county. (Cheers.) Mr Curnow had alluded to the necessity for unity and brotherly feeling. This was particularly desirable in the grocery business, for it was imperatively necessary that there should be a mutual understanding whereby business could be transacted to the advantage ¡¡¡f the trader and the public. (Hear, hear.) Let them cake the butchers' trade, for instance. Here, the large and small traders met each other in the market or at the fair week by week, and thus promoted a spirit of understanding which operated to the common _3 "L. -r. 'I' 1 guuu. queers.j nererence naa Deen made tnat evening to the matter of discussing prices. Personally, he was convinced that the discussion of prices at the association meeting3 was very desirable. In such an old and large commercial town like Bristol they freely talked prices, and some of the most prominent tradesmen in Bristol took part therein. This being so, they were certainly justified in discussing prices at Barry. (Cheers.) With these few remarks he wished the association great success, and in submitting the toast The Health of the President," Mr Ashford said he trusted Mr Lewis would live for many years to be an ornament to the association. (Applause and musical honours.) The President, who received another expression of enthusiasm on rising, expressed regret that they had not more time at their disposal that evening, but he must thank them very heartily for the cordial manner in which they had received the toast of his health as president of the first bakers' and first grocers' association in the Barry district, 1 as well as in his capacity as chairman of the first < annual dinner of the grocers' union. Mr Ashford, s in his remarks, had referred to him as one of ( nature's gentlemen, a compliment which he (Mr Lewis) highly appreciated. During the E seven yeara he had been in the Barry 1 district, he had always endeavour to conduct a himself in a becoming manner This was the first t grocers' dinner for him to attend, but if it was the I last he hoped there was no man living who would v be able to say that he had been a cutter" in the 1 trade in any way. (Hear, hear.) He believed in h selling goods at a fair price. Every article had c its relative value, and if a man cnt down the 1' price of one article for the purpose of increasing p his trade he maintained he did not do so fairly and b legitimately. 'Cheers.) There were many things 6( they could. as an association, efficiently control, and if they had in their ranks any tradesmen who attempted to cut down prices he thought they were fully justified in endeavouring to persuade him to act justly towards himself and his neigh- him to act justly towards himself and his neigh- bour. (Applause.) Duett, Messrs Evans and Jones. Mr J. M. Da,vies proposed the toast of the health of The Secretary (Mr R. O. Jones), and said Mr Jones was undoubtedly a model secretary. He was the best man they could possibly have, and with such a dutiful, attentive, and popular official there was no danger whatever that the association would become a wreck as one of the Cardiff friends had so gloomily prognosticated. (Loud applause and musical honours.) Mr R. 0. Jones gracefully acknowledged the cempliment bestowed upon him. He had every confidence in the future of the association, and the extraordinaiy strides which it had made in the past was only a sure augury of its continued success in the future. (Cheers.) Songs having been sung by Messrs Farr and Jones, Mr A. Young submitted the toast of "The Treasurer," remarking that the association had been very fortunate in securing the interest and co-operation of Mr Walters therein. (Cheers and musical honours.) Mr T. Walters, in returning thanks, said that from a financial point of view the Grocers' Asso- ciation had been eminently successful, for although the amount of annual subscription was low he was pleased to state they already had a balance on the right side of about je8. He hoped every grocer in the district would join and warmly sup- port the association, for it was intended for the mutual good of all. (Hear, hear.) Messrs D. Farr and J. Price having contributed to the harmony of the evening, Mr T. G. Tibbetts gave the toast of The Press," and in doing so said he believed all present would concur with him that the Press was one of the purest means of education of the day. He also desired to state that so far as the Barry district v/as concerned they were proud of the local representatives of the Press. (Cheers.) Mr J. R. Llewellyn (editor of the Barry Bock Arew-i) was deputed to respond, and in the course of his remarks he said he had all ajong been very favourably impressed with the large-hearted purposes which distinguished the operations of the Barry Grocers' Association. The members had, since the inception of the movement, shown an equal readiness to reduce the prices of goods when circumstances justified, as they had to increase quotations on a rising market, and in this way there was no doubt the spirit of combination which influenced the grocery trade in the district would prove as great a benefit to the purchasing public as it did to the members of the trade themselves. (Hear, hear.) As one who unfortunately had no vested interest in the grocery trade of the district, he (Mr Llewellyn) ventured to assure the general public of Barry that the business of the grocers' association was conducted on strictly upritrht, straightforward, and distinctly honourable lines, and he, therefore, had no hesitation in wishing the movement a career of great success. (Applause.) The President remarked he was very pleased to hear so favourable an opinion expressed of the operations of the association by one whose duty afforded him an opportunity of attending the meetings. He believed he was right in saying that the Barry Grocers' Association was the first to open its doors for the attendance of the Press at committee meetings, and he was pleased to add that the confidence reposed in the representatives of the trade and other journals had not been abused by the reporters in any way. (Cheers.) Duett, Messrs Farr and Walters. Mr Curnow followed with a few encouraging remarks to the association. He was very glad, he said, to see so many young tradesmen present that evening. He had no desire whatever to say any- thing which would appear to be intended to please the ear only, but he had no hesitation in stating that amongst the combination present at that gathering they had gentlemen who would assuredly develop into flourishing and prosperous prince merchants in years to come. (Hear, hear.) He also bestowed a word of praise upon the high character of musical ability displayed on that occasion, and said the company had heard singing fit for the Crystal Palace or the Royal Courts. (Cheers.) Mr Curnow also made a few flattering references to their esteemed president, and wished him a long and happy life. The President suitably responded, and Mr John Jones having given the toast of The Host and Hostess," the President spoke in acknowledgement, and said that Mr and Mrs Williams had catered for the wants of the company in a manner which had gained for them the entire approval of all present. (Cheers.) A duett was given by Messrs Jones and Evans, rollowed by a song by Mr J. Evans, and the pro- ieedings terminated with the singing of the rational Anthem. Mr Rees Jones proved an able accompanist, and Messrs W. Norman and C. R. Ford contributed violin and piano selections during ¡he dinner, a word of praise being also due to the atter for the artistic manner in which he executed ;he crystal decorations of the room.