Contributions made by Canadian businesses and businessmen to war efforts in WWI and WWII
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LectureEleven-SmallBusinessandGovernmentResponses.pptxSmall Business and Government Responses to the Growth of Big Business: Edward Alexander Partridge and Alphonse Desjardins
Lecture Eleven – History 113
Edward Alexander Partridge
Partridge began Working as School Teacher Near Barrie Ontario
Partridge and His Brother Moved West in 1883 and Homesteaded north of Sintaluta (Sask.)
In 1901, Part of A Very Large Wheat Harvest Spoiled as the CPR and the Grain-Elevator Companies were Unprepared to Deal with It
Partridge and Others Formed the Territorial Grain Growers’ Association in 1902 to Help Farmers Fight Abuse by the Grain Dealers and Railways
In 1904, Partridge Proposed the Idea of Establishing a Farmer-Owned Cooperative Trading Company
He was Convinced by 1905 that the Winnipeg Grain Exchange did not Serve the Interests of Farmers
In 1906, Partridge Founded The Grain Growers’ Grain Company Limited and Became Its First President
Basically a Joint-Stock Company of Farmers Who Would Sell Their Wheat Collectively
Partridge Also Advocated for Public Ownership of Grain Elevators to Eliminate the Effective Monopoly of the Large Grain Handlers
The Idea Received Support of the Prairie Governments and Would Lead to Action in 1920s with creation in 1926 of the Saskatchewan United Farmers of Canada
Source: Saskatchewan Archives
From: E.A. Partridge
wikipedia.org
Alphonse Desjardins
Desjardins Began as a Journalist and Then was Appointed as a Stenographer for the House of Commons in 1892
Desjardins was a Supporter of Mutual Aid Societies and Sat on the Board of a Society that Provided Mortgage Loans to its Members
During a 1897 Debate on Usurious Practices in the House, Desjardins Became Concerned about the Lack of Credit for Average People
Based on Research on People’s Banks and Rural Credit Unions in Europe, Desjardins Created the Caisse Populaire de Lévis on 6 Dec. 1900
It was a Cooperative Savings and Loan Society whose Main Purpose was to Extend Credit to Members
In 1906, Desjardins Succeeded in Having the QC Legislature Pass the Quebec Syndicates’ Act which Provided a Legal Framework for the Caisse (Credit Unions)
Desjardins and the Caisse Received the Support of the Church in QC and Prominent French Canadian Leaders
Leading to Growth of the Caisse Populaire in QC and ON
By 1920, Quebec had 140 Caisses with a Total Membership of More than 30,000 and Assets of $6,300,000
Source: Confédération des Caisses
Populaires Desjardins
From: Alphonse Desjardins
wikipedia.org
New Business Practices and Workers
Growth of Big Business and Industrialization Led to Problems or Challenges for Workers:
Impersonal Nature of Employer/Employee Relationship in Large Workplaces
New Efficiency and Employee Management Measures Implemented by Large Companies
Scientific Management and Mechanization
Measures to Increase Efficiency and Production
Resisted by Workers as it Reduces Autonomy and Control of Workers and Leads to De-Skilling
Exploitive Work Place Environment and Wages
Paternalism/Human Resource Management
Measures Introduced To Increase Employee Dedication to Company
Early Forms of Human Resource Management
Eaton was a Pioneer in the Shorter Hours Movement
1913, McGregor Implemented the 9-Hour Day and Pay Raises
Source: City of Toronto Archives, James
Collection
From: thestar.com 6 November 2013
Responses to Problems of Workers
Governments Implement Measures to Regulate Labour Conditions
Through Enquiries and Legislation
Government Concern is for the Safety of Women and Children
Leads to the First Factory Acts (Labour Laws)
Regulate Hours and Conditions of Female and Child Labour
Factory Acts Do Not Cover Male Workers
Male Workers Develop Collective Responses
Organize in to Unions to Try to Achieve Wage and Workplace Demands
1912 Strike by Workers at the Eaton’s Clothing Factory
Eaton’s Refused to Negotiate with the Union and Locked out the Workers
Large Employers Criticize Unions as Injurious to Competition and Business
Employers Associations are Formed
Canadian Bankers Association 1891
Source: The World, March 31, 1912.
From:backtothepark.wordpress.com/
category/toronto-labour-history/
Challenges of Small Business
Rise of Big Business Also Leads to Problems/Concerns for Small Business
Argue that They are in an Unfair Competitive Situation Due to Power of Big Business
Retail Merchant’s Association of Canada
Early 1920s, Complain of “Unfair” Competitive Practices by Large Retailers like Eaton’s
Form Combinations and Cooperatives to Strengthen Their Market Position, Political Influence and Achieve Their Goals
Partridge Established the Territorial Grain Growers’ Association in 1902 to Express Farmers’ Grievances to Government and Impact Government Policy
Desjardins Created the Caisse Populaire to Meet the Needs of Farmers, Small Business and Average People
From: The National Policy/
www.mises.ca
Farmers and the Cooperative Movement
Farmers Form Producer Co-Operatives
To Effectively “Integrate” Their Production with Transportation, Marketing, and Storage
Partridge’s Support for Farmer’s Cooperative Arose From Concerns About the Virtual Monopoly Held by the Elevator Companies and the Winnipeg Grain Exchange
Partridge Founded The Grain Growers’ Grain Company Limited to Allow Farmers to Market and Sell Their Wheat Collectively
Partridge Also Advocated for Public Ownership of Grain Elevators to Eliminate the Effective Monopoly of the Large Grain Handlers
Partridge’s Ideas are Extended to Elevators Starting in 1911
United Grain Growers Ltd & Sask Co-op Elevator Co
By 1920s, Cooperatives Control Majority of Line and Terminal Elevators
Farmers Continue with this Practice when the First “Wheat Board” Established by the Government is Dissolved in 1920
Farmers Create Wheat “Pools” (Marketing Cooperatives)
Co-op Wheat Production Co (Alta 1923, Sask & Man 1924)
From: Edward Partridge
wikipedia.org
Increase in Government Intervention in Business
Concerns of Workers, Small Business and Average People Lead to an Increase in Government Intervention in Business and the Economy By the Early 20th century
Combined with Concerns About Economic Instability Particularly with The Depression of the 1930s
Pressure for Government to Moderate the Forces of the Market
To “Protect” Society from Problems of Unrestrained Competition and Exploitation
One Example is “Anti-Trust” Legislation Introduced in 1889 with Revisions in to the 1920s
Legislation for “suppressing the evils arising from…combinations and monopolies”
Canadian Wheat Board Formed in 1935 as a Marketing Agency for Western Farmers Following the Collapse of the Wheat Pools
Bank of Canada Formed in 1935
In Part to Regulate Interest Rates and Effect Monetary Policy to Protect Citizens and the Economy
Desjardins Created the Caisse Populaire Due to Similar Concerns About Control of the Money Supply and Interest Rates by Big Banks
1935 $25.00 Note Commemorating
Formation of the Bank of Canada
From: Bank of Canada/
www.currencymuseum.ca
