The Portland daily press., 1881-07-21
RETAIL GROCERS.
TUE MEETING At RECEPTION HALL
LAST EVENING.
a COMMITTEES on Organization Appointed.

Last evening, in accordance with the call
published in the daily papers, number of the
retail grocers of tho city met in Reception Hall
to listen to Mr.. BLcCready, of the New Eng
land Grocer, in reference to the formation OF
an auxiliary branch of che New England Re
tail Grocsrs' Association. There was not a
very large audience, but it was explained by
Mr., McCready that he had the written pledge
of many of tho leading retailers to the effect
that they were in sympathy with the objects Of
the association and that certain good reasons,
which he gave, prevented their attendance
The meeting was called to order By Mr.. Nc
Cfeady at $50 O'Clock, and, at his suggestion,
Mr. George II. Lord was nominated for Chair
man. lie declined and Mr. W. w. Sabine OF
Geo. G. Shaw & Co., was nominated. Mr.. NJ.
A. Dillingham; was chosen Secretary.
Mr.. Sabine then called on Mr.. MeCready,
who made statement to the following effect:
The formation OF a Retail Grocers' Assoeta-
ton has seemed necessary to the trade lor
many years. April 9th, 1850, mass meeting
of the trade was held 10 consider the matter.
a committee was appointed and secured names
and on Monday, Jan. q, 1881, another meet
ing was called. Then there was a large gath
ering from Boston, SomerYine, Chelsea, Cam
bridge, MedfOrd, Lynn Salem, and many other
cities. A constitution and bylaws We're
adopted and the meeting adjourned to Jan.
3lst, when officers were elected. On Feb 18th
resolutions were adopted setting forth that the
association was formed 'sfor o purpose, that
purpose being mutual benefit" and expressing
the idea that measures should be adopted by
which the price of sugars can be regulated as
IS now done by retiners and wholesale grocers,
to the end that retailers lay obtain fair ad-
vance on the cost" a. committee was appoint
ed at the same meeting to investigate the
shortage in kerosene oil. This committee
made report at the next meeting, March
14t2, and On May 9th it was announced that
hereafter seven pounds would constitute a gal
lon. The principal feature of the meeting on
april 1lth was the reading of q resolution
adopted by the wholesale grocers, setting forth
that recognizing the justice of the complaints
OF the New England Grocers Rss0Cistian. We
will diseountonance the practice now more or
less prevalent of breaking packages for the
family trade May 10th a committee was
elected to regulate the prices on granulated
sugar. This committee met at the close of the
meeting, and the next day, May 17th, issued
the first price card to the trade. Since that
Tins several changes in the price have been
made, and postal cards mailed to every mem
Der OF the association. which now numbers
l000 names not counting the auxiliary associG-
tons at Worcester, Providence and other CEN
trail points.
This, briefly, is the history OF tho associa-
ton. 1t viii be seen that great good has
already been accomplished, sugar, oil and
other important matters having boon consid-
cred and acted upon,
The reasons necessitating tho formation Of
this association are obvious to every retail
grocer. The loss occasionsd to the trade by
reason OF short weights IN raisiis and Oil, the
sale OF sugars at less than cost, not to speak Of
other evils, were Of sufficient Importance to
call for concerted action on the part OF the
trade. The association b as for its prime mo
tive o desire to rebake fraud remove abuses
and protect honest dealers. It has for its end
the uplifting of the trade in its entirety. No
schemes for the benefit OF the inlividaai, no
devices for the aggraadizsineat Of single
firm are tolerated 1t is only as grievances af-
feet the whole trade, only as they are general
in their effect that they are of Importance
enough to merit attention.
MIR. McCready then read the bylaws by
which all auxiliary associations shall pay Is
cents for each member, yearly, for the main
tenance of the parent society, and that each
auxiliary society shall be entitled to one dele-
gate for every FIVE members at tho
meeting OF the parent society
The other bylaws resemble those Of
most associations Each member pays 81 a
year and seob assessments as may be voted
The officers shall be . president, secretary,
treasurer and ten directors, to be elected an
nually by ballot.
Mr.. BfcCready said he was here at tho re-
qNF1oo " many " site iStait 90aiets. n ieM
years Ego t.iefe was an ASSOCIATION mere pnO =
MAD nae, latleA % pieces. ne eNPiaiilsa' o.. r&SaeF
aliassa On th9 tro0o5es Iie letailafs ha0 eA-
psEioiset IN tne;E tEsa9. 7 OF lhStshoe q box
% y, t@'s1lis lorllstly cehtalheo &hy~here from
10 70 20 pouilus OF 1tuie 70 ooA. 1hrough
W, Assoelsts.oh euGrts Z leV9r haG oeen
nroaslie g ssac on ttie Nholes@;e traae, ana
ssh les eaeal on inc ill9oltsrS oy Wnleh no
oeao Wooo was 4Ihpesea OF the trade, nus
every box now contained fully ~ pounds 81
ifuit: lie also explained now tho sugar trade
deprived t9e trader OF cent q profit, and
s s v deaiers moai4 lf az si9lL paffei q
eoW YORK nag sugar WIZ q h&!l oaffei q re,
haers gfahulatee, an0 SOL IL IN a Stamped
reiiilsi pttfsl Joe tile ,9ai gFauulated. ne
snoWeu ll2I al leaders as they are caied,
or OF, ieaalng articies OF tl2dal are nov sold oY
al the nlaiia1S y 20 20 re associagohs az
i ittnig prices NoW Il - telallels ID 9 loWa
ION an aaxlilafy associa'1oa, anu -FOUR 90 not,
u tae 0easf prefers % sen % tn9 ioas instead
Oh tne - WY thab y hls io9kgnt, 6us thefe is
not much money n It. Ihe1 again II i a
gooa ldes TO estAo!ish a. eentEe OF sapphes;
forIi&no shouii p5 one: roc Instance instead
OF oattefinaa IL Deerihg, 9scesrappa or De-
YONG gong al over foftlatso 20 sec what are