| Administrative History | The Society was founded at a local level in the Midlands in 1915. The National Association of Provincial Wholesale Sunday Newspaper Distributors was created in 1947, and in the same year altered its name from 'Association' to 'Society'.
The National Society of Provincial Wholesale Sunday Newspaper Distributors (NSPWSND) was an employer's association and registered trade union representing wholesale distributors of Sunday newspapers in most provincial towns in England, Scotland and Wales. It's object was to protect and promote the interests of its members, by means of regulating conditions between members and the publishers of Sunday Newspapers, members' retailing customers of Sunday Newspapers and members' employees engaged in the distribution of Sunday Newspapers. In this capacity it was involved in frequent negotiations with publishing houses, government commissions and tribunals and trade unions. The Society was party to an annual wages agreement with SOGAT (Society of Graphical & Allied Trades).
Membership of the Society was available to those over 21 who carried on business as a wholesale Sunday Newspaper distributor, handling over 100 quires weekly, in the United Kingdom. Members tended to be independent family businesses, in existence since the national Sunday newspaper publishers extended their sales distribution to provincial areas at the turn of the 20th Century.
The Head Office was administered by the National Secretary who was responsible to the National Executive Council (NEC). The NEC was presided over by the National President, and consisted of National Officers - elected by the membership - and one delegate from each branch. Reporting to the NEC were Sub-Committees on Finance, Terms, Labour Relations and Membership. These Sub-Committees provided members to attend meetings and delegations with publishers, trade unions and other bodies. The Society otherwise operated on a branch level, with members allocated to a branch according to geographical convenience. Branches included the West Midlands, Yorkshire, North West, North East, South East & Home Counties, Southern Counties, Isle of Wight & Channel Islands, South West, South Wales and Scotland. Branches appointed their own offices and committees, and framed their own rules and regulations provided they conformed to the General Rules & Regulations of the Society and were approved by the NEC.
Under the traditional system, the distribution of Sunday Newspapers was entrusted to independent/individual wholesalers, in contrast to the daily operation where 70% of wholesaling was carried out by multiples. Sunday Newspaper publishers appointed agents to supply to retailers in defined distribution areas. The publisher was free to revise the distribution area or to terminate the agency, although traditionally on the death or retirement of an agent the business could be handed on to immediate family members. Agents were responsible for the organisation of staff, premises and transport. Delivery was by rail and then by road to outlying wholesalers. The income of members was derived from profit on sales. The Society addressed common problems encountered by wholesalers including non-publication, part or late supply, which resulted in immediate loss of revenue and profit to members and loss of goodwill with the retail customer. It also led negotiations for extra handling allowances on Sunday supplements and colour magazines to cover cost of additional staff and transport.
The Society was dissolved in 1988, following drastic changes in the distribution arrangements for Sunday Newspapers taken by the publishers. Newspaper proprietors such as Murdoch, demonstrated the possibility, in London, of bypassing wholesalers and delivering direct to retailers by haulage. Direct delivery of Sunday Newspapers was also negotiated with retail multiples, more like the 6-day distribution. The number of wholesalers decreased drastically as a result of the rationalisations within the industry. |
| Custodial History | Donated by a former National Secretary of the Society in 2002 |