RAILWAY EMPLOYES’ BENEFIT SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1730, 5 September 1879, Page 3

RAILWAY EMPLOYES’ BENEFIT SOCIETY.

The quarterly general meeting of members of the above society was held at tho railway station last evening. Tho president, Mr W. Conyers, occupied the chair, and there was a large muster of members present. The secretary (Mr E. A. Dowdon) read tho minutes of the last general and special meetings, which were confirmed. The following report was read : Gentlemen,—You have been called together this evening for your impartial opinion being obtained relative to alterations that are proposed to be made affecting tho society. As a meeting takes place to-morrow night in Dunedin for the same purpose for which this meeting is convened, your attention is particularly requested to the subjects that will be brought before you. _ You are^ all aware that it has for some considerable time been contemplated that an amalgamation should take place between the Christchurch and Dunedin societies.

As a preliminary to this, a meeting of delegates, comprised of five Dunedin and five Christchurch gentlemen, took place on Wednesday and Thursday last, and at the conference the|rules were altered and modified that they should become applicable to tho two societies, in factj your committee may say three societies, as a fresh society has been lately formed at Invercargill, who also desire to belong to the union, The delegates on either side have not committed themselves in any way by deciding this matter pro or con, but have left it in the hands of the members to decide, and your votes on this subject will be presently required. A balance sheet will he submitted to yon of your accounts, which shows cash on tho 31st August in tho Bank .£215 -la 6d ; arrears due from financial members £233 16s, making a total of £449 10s 6d, ; from this has to be deducted —due to medical officers, £SO 17s Cd; sick allowance, £9 19s lOd; printing account, £l4 3a sd, leaving a balance to the credit of tho society of £374 9s 9d. As reported to you at onr last general special meeting, the commissioner has expressed himself to the effect that on the amalgamation of tho societies he would enforce rule 14 of tho rules and regulations of tho New Zealand railways. This action on his part will contribute materially to the success of the amalgamated societies, and should we think weigh with you in your deliberations this evening. The latter part of his promise made at the same interview, wo beg to submit he has at this meeting fully carried out, viz ; —“ That if a general meeting of any of the societies was necessary ho would give every assistance in furthering the wishes of each member of the society desirous of attending such meeting.” This he has done by allowing pence cards to be used as passes on this occasion, for which your committee and they hope'you will join with them in tendering h : m our united th. nks. I have tho honor to be, gentleman, Charles Heaton, Chairman for the committee.

The report, as read, was adopted. The President explained that there had been a meeting of delegates, representatives having come from Dunedin, and the report of the meeting was to the effect that the conference had recommended an amalgamation of the societies now in existence, and a few amendments had also been made in the existing rules. The rules were then read and discussed seriatim. The President remarked that as fines were occasionally levied by the Government on railway employes, and they were now lying to what was termed the railway servants fund, the Government, if requested to do so, would probably hand them over to the society. At present the fines amounted to over £IOO. It would be made compulsory that everyone employed on the railways should join the society. Mr Knight, from Wellington, thought that the older members should certainly pay more than the younger ones, by a sliding scale; and that in future, in taking new members into the society, a new scale should bo adopted. The scale he recommended was — For a member of twenty, £1 14s; of thirty, £3 5s 4d ; of forty, £3 4s Id. A member suggested that in case of amalgamation that the Dunedin Society should put in the whole of their funds into the general fund, and not merely an equal amount to the Christchurch Society, whose funds were far less. The Chairman stated that a telegram had been received from the Greymouth manager, to the effect that there were fifteen employes there, who were anxious to join the Christchurch Society. Mr Ennis moved—“ That the action of the delegates be approved, and an amalgamation be sanctioned, and the Dunedin Society be requested to put in their surplus funds.” He thought the Dunedin Society should put the whele of their funds into the common one ; but if they did not do so he would not oppose the amalgamation on that account. If they were joined together it would be cementing a bond of sympathy between railway men. Mr Andrews seconded the motion. Mr Heaton proposed as an amendment, and Mr Frame seconded —“ That an amalgamation take place as proposed by the delegates.” The motion was carried. The meeting expressed itself to be unanimously in favor of amalgamation. The Chairman said he did not look upon the railway as sectional but treated it as one, and he dealt with the employes in each place all the same. He would be glad to accompany their delegates to Dunedin and assist in coming to an amicable arrangement. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.