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Painters-9, Joiners and Undertakers-2, Blacksmiths-2 (one
aged 73 and doing a full day's work), Transport workers-8,
Packers-3, Hairdressers-2, Fruit and Vegetable Depart- ment-2,
Gleaners-2, Clerks-14.
The employees are members of their respective trade unions.
They are paid trade union rates of wages and work recognised
hours per week. Only three live outside the parish, one
in Leith, who uses a motor-cycle, and two in Mussel- burgh,
who travel by bus. Only the bakers take their meals in the
works, at a small canteen run by themselves. The Society
has constructed a bowling green which is rented to the Castle
Park Bowling Club, most of whose members are also Society
members.
The Prestonpans Go-operative Society was founded in 1869.
In 1939 the membership was 1854 and the annual trade £108,180.
In 1947 the membership was 2136 and the trade £246,630,
while the average purchases per member had increased from
£58 in 1939 to .£116 in 1947, a change only
in part accounted for by increases in prices and by purchase
tax.
The soap factory of Messrs James Mellis & Go. was founded
in the latter part of the 18th century. The number of employees
is now much depleted owing to present-day restrictions,
rationing, and scarcity of raw materials. The majority live
in Prestonpans. A strong personal interest is taken in the
welfare of each employee by the present principal of the
firm, whose family have owned the business for nearly fifty
years. Of the raw materials used, tallow, at present in
limited quantities, is obtained from Australia, New Zealand,
and South America, although prior to 1939 supplies of Home
Melt Tallow were plentiful. The home market is supplied
by rail and road transport with the products of the factory-
hard soap (domestic, laundry, and wool-scouring), soft soap,
soap powder, and toilet soap, all of very high quality.
The seven and a half centuries old salt industry now employs
only seven people. In former times the salt was manufactured
from sea water in shallow " pans," but it is unlikely that
at any time more than a few people were employed. The Union
of 1707, which allowed the import of English salt, caused
a contraction in the manufacture of
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