"KIRKSTAINS" MUTUAL AID SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 8

"KIRKSTAINS" MUTUAL AID SOCIETY

GENEKOUS ASSISTANCE. Tho omployees' of Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains to the number of some hundreds assembled in tho tearooms nt 5.50 p.m. yesterday to consider a. matter of business oi' prospective benefit to each member of tho staff. Mr. Sidney Kirkealdie, in addressing the gathering, stated that about sovon years ago a. benefit society had been started among the employees of the firm, by which certain sick benefits would accrue to jinancial membors. For reasons that he need not go into the scheme was neither'approved nor disapproved by himself, and it had not proved quite so satisfactory as some i;ad anticipated. Decently the task of infusing new life into the society had been undertaken by those interested, and as the result its constitution was altered. One of the chief alterations was that the contributions would, be less per week, and the benefits more. At the close of tiio last financial year of the society/thnre was a balance of £140 to credit. That amount the firm would subsidise £ for £ now, and it would also subsidise £ for £ all the subscriptions paid by members, so that the amount of the subsidy the firm would pay, largo or small, depended entirely on tlie manner tho scheme was supported. The fund would bo administered by themselves. All he would ask was that it be administered on a sound financial basis. The scale of contributions to the society would he as follows:—

Grade I.—For those in receipt of 225. fid. per week or under, weekly contribution, ljd.; sick benefits, 10sl per week for first three weeks, 12s. ()d. from the fourth to,the thirteenth week (inclusive). Grade 2.—Salary, 225. Gd. to 375. 6d. per week; contribution '3d. per week; sick benefit, 20s. first three weeks, 2os. from fourth to thirteenth week. Grade 3.—Salary, 375. fid. to 50s. per week; contribution 4sd. per week; sick benefit, 3()s. first three weeks, 375. 6d. from fourth to thirteenth week. Grade '4.—Salary, over 605.; contribution, 6d. per week; , sick benefit, 40s. first three weeks; 50s. per week for the fourth to thirteonth week. Regarding tho scale, Mr. lurkcaldie said he had had actuarial advice, and had been assured that it would probably turn out to bo quite financially sound. He pointed out that if the sum of £140 could he saved under the past conditions, there was a prospect of raising such a 'Sum that would justify an increase in the scale of benefits. He personally believed. in insurance against sickness and death, and he strongly recommended the scheme put forward by the society to j&very employee, and urged them .to support it, as its success entirely depended on themselves.