434 THE MARKETING OF IRISH LACE. 



Lady Aberdeen in her efforts to revive the decaying industries of Ireland, 

 had opportunity of discovering what the gradual decline of the Lace Depot 

 meant for the lace industry. She was about to leave Ireland for Canada, 

 but before leaving she took a step which has had a remarkable influence on 

 the fortunes of the Irish lace industry. She purchased the Lace Depot and 

 its remaining stock, and entrusted the business which it carried on to a few 

 gentlemen who were associated with her in her philanthropic undertakings. 

 From her home in Ottawa she kept up communication with her representa- 

 tives in Ireland, and by her advice and co-operation largely helped to the 

 success which they achieved. 



After a fev/ years Lady Aberdeen and her helpers formed themselves 

 into a limited liability company, in order to put their lace trade on a strictly 

 business footing. The company was somewhat peculiar in its constitution 

 and methods. All the shareholders, seven in number, were directors, 

 each of them held a smgle £i share ; and the articles of association pro- 

 vided that no dividend should be paid on the shares, and that all profits 

 should be employed by the directors to develop the lace industry in Ireland 

 and improve the condition of the workers. 



At the same time that Lady Aberdeen was carrying out this scheme, 

 Mr. Horace Plunkett and his associates were spreading the knowledge of 

 co-operative methods and organising co-operative societies in the rural 

 districts of Ireland. Co-operative associations of laceworkers were formed 

 early in the movement, and these increased in number and efficiency as the 

 movement spread and took firmer and firmer hold of the country. In these 

 co-operative societies the directors of the Lace Depot found steady sources 

 of supply. Instruction could be readily given to bodies thus organised, 

 the execution of large orders could be counted on, and the development of 

 a trade constantly increasing in volume and value become possible. The 

 organisation introduced by the Congested Districts Board coincided with 

 the growth of co-operation, and helped to the same end. 



To co-operative societies of lace-workers and to other organisations of 

 lace-workers, the Depot supplied designs. From these and from the 

 Schools of the Congested Districts it took the lace, when manufactured, at 

 market prices, and sold it in the best markets accessible, and after defraying 

 expenses and providing for the interest on borrowed capital, gave the 

 societies of workers a bonus proportionate to the value of the lace they had 

 supplied. It furthermore paid the salary of a teacher for those organisa- 

 tions which were unable, without this assistance, to procure competent in- 

 struction in lace-making. How its operations under these several heads 

 have grown since the date of its establishment in 1893-4 is shown by the 

 following figures : — 



Sales. Grants to Workers. 



The development of the Irish lace industry which the operations of the 

 Lace Depot have effected have called into existence other agencies of distri- 



