THE FOUNDING OF THE FEDERATION

The hope was expressed in the Preface to the Revised
Memorandum and Articles of Association of our Federation that at some time
information might become available from which our antecedents might be charted.

That day has now arrived, and I am indebted to the Glasgow United Fleshers` Society for their permission being given to the Federation for unrestricted perusal of their Minute Book 8 (26 February
1917....29 August 1923) in order that the manner of our beginnings as a
Federation might be recorded.

Our Certificate of Incorporation was granted by the
registrar of Companies in

Edinburgh

on 26 July 1918 and apart from that fact we have nothing in our
records. The
very first information is contained in a brief hand written Minute of the
Meeting of the Executive held in w:st="on">Glasgow

on Monday 12 November 1917. This is an extract... Page 91 " Minute of the
COMMITTEE of the GLASGOW UNITED FLESHERS` SOCIETY" held within the Clerk`s
Chambers, w:st="on">105 St Vincent Street, w:st="on">
Glasgow

on Monday 12 November, 1917 at 8 pm

"It was resolved that a Motion be put forward to
the Mass Meeting to form a FEDERATION of SCOTTISH MEAT TRADERS."

May I explain what lay behind this need to constitute a Federation which would then be a combined voice of authority representing retailers and wholesalers from all over
w:st="on">
Scotland

in order to compel the Food Control Authority to recognise their just complaints and have these remedied. The Minute appertaining to this matter continued for several pages but was followed by:-

FEDERATION

Page 99 " Bailie Robertson,
Dundee
. Then moved the following Resolution:- That in the opinion of this Mass Meeting
of Scottish Meat Traders assembled in Glasgow, the time has now arrived when, in the interests of the Meat Trade, a Federation of the Meat Traders in Scotland
should be formed and accordingly approves of the formation of such Federation, and resolves that steps be immediately taken to have it constituted."

"Mr James Miller seconded and after several others had spoken in favour thereof, and there being no Amendment, the Resolution was carried unanimously."

"On the Motion of Bailie Edward Watson, it was remitted to the Glasgow United Fleshers` Society to intimate the Resolution to all known Flesher Societies in Scotland, and with full powers to proceed with the formation of the Federation."

The Mass Meeting took place and the following brief
comments come from the Minutes showing progress.

10 December 1917
(page 100)

Scottish
Federation

An analysis of letters received from various Societies
regarding the proposed Scottish Federation was submitted: All of these were
favourable but a number desired to have their liabilities stated before they
committed themselves. It was remitted to a sub committee consisting of the
President Mr W R Hunter, Ex-President, Treasurer and Messrs. John Stewart, and
Robert H Brechin, to draft the proposed Constitution...The Minute recalls that
there was a crowded attendance and that there were representatives from
Edinburgh, Arbroath, Peterhead, Greenock, Kirkcaldy, Paisley, Coatbridge,
Inverness, Dundee and elsewhere.

Apologies had been intimated from Traders in Beith,
Castle Douglas, Dunblane, Laurencekirk, Stranraer and
w:st="on">
Perth

.

7 January 1918 (
page 109)

NATIONAL
FEDERATION

A letter had been received from the National Federation of Meat Traders who welcomed the formation of a Scottish Federation and in reply
it was said that the continuation of membership and other matters which were to
the benefit of both Federations would be dealt with by the new Federation.

28 January 1918 (
Page 115)

It was reported to the Committee Meeting that a Draft
Constitution had been formulated and that printed copies would be issued to
Members of the Committee. Copies would be sent also to all interested Societies
and a Meeting would be held on 27 February 1918 to discuss matters.

11 April
(page 121)

An interested feature is recorded in this Minute where
the idea of the Federation was already taking shape and where representatives as
follows showed their practical uniting as one. No doubt they remembered the
French proverb, that Unity was Strength, and into Action they went.

Present

Aberdeen: R
Laing, A Bowman, J Blake, A Jamieson, J B Davidson

Dundee: A M Robertson, J A Cordiner, R Fiddes,A Piggot, A Miller, A J Ferguson, J Fenton

Perth: S Mathieson, J R Lindsay, J F Frew, A Jackson, R Hall

Motherwell: W
Russell, T Jackson, L F A Edwards, G Pollock

Kilmarnock: M Logan, M Williamson, M Craig

Airdrie: T Eglinton

Wigtown-shire: J Waddell, B Jesson

Falkirk: R S Graham

Forfar: M Coutts, M Kinloch

There was also a very large turnout of the Trade generally.

Further

The Clerk, Mr Hugh Duncan, of Messrs Russell &
Duncan, Writers, reported that the Board of Trade had requested additions to the
proposed draft Constitution by requiring that the names of various officials be
shown in the first copy, viz the First President, Vice-president, Secretary and
Treasurer, and these would act till the first Annual General Meeting be held.

Mr John Stewart was elected as the first President,
Vice-Presidents elected, were:-

Allan M Robertson, 34 Union Street,
Dundee

Malcolm Brechin, w:st="on">
2 Newington Road, Edinburgh


John Carswell,� 148 Grahams Road,
Falkirk

James Millar, Meat Market, Glasgow


Frank Stuart, 420
Cumberland
Street, Glasgow


David D Paton, Main Street, West Kilbride

D S Mathieson 33 w:st="on">
St John
Street, Perth

With another to be named by the Aberdeen Society and
with power to be given to the Executive to add other names in keeping with the
limit set. (15).

Mr Hugh Duncan was initially appointed as Secretary and
Treasurer but advised the Executive that he would rather a member of the Trade
be appointed.

Mr John H Sinclair agreed to act jointly with Mr Duncan
and they were accordingly appointed Secretaries and Treasurers.

15 April 1918 (
Page 131)

Having been invited so to do, the Wholesale Meat Society
put forward the name of Mr James Miller to be their nominee for the Chair in the
absence of the Chairman. This was agreed.

15 August 1918 (page 146)

SCOTTISH
FEDERATION

The clerk reported that the Scottish Federation was duly
registered on 26 July 1918 and an invitation had been issued to all known
Societies in Scotland

to become affiliated.

Minute of the
Annual General Meeting of the

Glasgow

United Fleshers` Society held within the Trades House, Glasgow, on Monday, 14
October, 1918 at 8 pm

(Page 154)

SCOTTISH
FEDERATION

"The Chairman submitted a recommendation from the
Committee that the expenses of the formation of the Scottish Federation, should
be paid out of the Society`s Funds. It was reported that the outlays would
amount to between £70 and £ 80 and that Legal expenses would be about £ 100,
but that the clerk and his firm were willing to accept a restricted sum of £
150, and, and to make no charge for his secretarial work, such work he had
undertaken to perform until the First Annual General Meeting to be held on the
16^th inst."

REPORT of the
Committee of the

Glasgow

United Fleshers` Society to the Annual General Meeting (as above)

"The Scottish Federation of Meat Traders`
Associations has now been Incorporated and is in operation. The affiliation of
Societies throughout

Scotland

is evidencing that its existence is being approved and valued by the Trade
generally. As the United Fleshers Society has taken a leading part in the
formation of the Federation, and is the largest Society, the Committee recommend
that the expenses of forming the Federation be defraying by the Society, and a
recommendation to this effect will be submitted to the Meeting (as above).

It is hoped that some working arrangements will be
arrived at between the Scottish Federation and the National Federation of Meat
Traders whereby the two will be mutually helpful to each other".

19 January 1920 (
page 218 )

Donation to
Federation

"The President reported that the Scottish
Federation were endeavouring to raise a very large Defence Fund and asked the
assistance of the Society in connection therewith. Mr Sinclair reported that the
idea was to obtain a contribution of 6d per week from each member, until the sum
of £5,000 was reached. It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Annual
General Meeting that a donation of £1,000 be granted". Thus the Scottish
Federation of Meat Traders` Association ( Incorporated) came into being.

Perhaps these men, with undoubted vision, may have had
in their minds some words written by Tennyson, bearing in mind that they were
looking along a possible dark tunnel and having suffered during a most tragic
time in our history, The Great War ...1914-1918.
Yet they saw a light and pressed on towards it.

"For I dipt into the future,� far as human eye could see,

Saw the vision of the world that would be.

Heard the heavens filled with shouting,

And there rained a ghastly dew

From the nations` airy navies grappling in the central
blue.

Till the wardrum throbb`d no longer, and the
battle-flags were furled

In the Parliament of man, The Federation of the world".

This short statement was written on "All Saints
Day" November 1989, a time when we seek to remember those to whom we owe so
much, and humbly seek to follow into the future.

ERNEST J BLACK



HONORARY PRESIDENT

01/11/1989