Cadbury's Coronation Gift.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 September 1911, Page 4

Cadbury's Coronation Gift.

PENSION TO WOMEN

WORKERS,

Messrs Cadbury Bros., Ltd., of Bournville, commemorated the Coronation by creating a Savings and Pension Fund for their women employees similar to the fund for men and boys, Already established. Employees -will contribute fixed sums of 6d., 9d,, or Is per week, according to age, and these contributions, together with compound interest at 5 per cent., will accumulate, and the whole will be paid out to them on leaving through any cause what ever, or to their representatives in the event of death. For any who continue in the service of the Company until fifty years of age—or earlier, if retirement is due to infirmity—the option is given of either taking their own contributions and interest in a lump sum, or receiving a pension payable until death, and including a funeral grant. A member entering at fifteen, would at fifty have standing to her credit in the fund, contributions amounting to £85, and interest £126, At sixty, the contributions would be £111, and the interest £269. If she retired.at fifty, and elected to take a pension, the amount payable would be £34 a year. If her retirement occurred at sixty, her pension would be £66 a year. In order tomake some provision for those who have been in the Company's service for a considerable period prior to th<3 formation of the fund, Messrs, Cadbury Bros., Ltd., have made a special donation of £10,000.. This will be treated as if it were the' members', own past contributions. Already 2887 girls, out of a total number of about, 3000, over fifteen years of age, have handed in a request to join the fund. A similar superanuation fund was some little time ago started on behalf of the male employees, and in this case too, the fund was handsomely endow* ered by Cadbury's. Several other large manufacturers in the Old Country are following on similar lines. The more progressive and humane business men are beginning to recognise that it is their duty to provide for their employees in such a manner, that when they retire from active service they will be able to end their days in peace and plenty. CadS bury's have always been noted for the generous way in which they look after the welfare of their employees. Their factory is situated ia a Garden Tillage, where the firm have erected and maintain, handsome schools, li« braries, places for entertainments, parks, model cottages, etc., where those employed by thorn live in the utmost freedom and under the most h^PPy .circumstances. It must be admitted that, apart from the humane aspect, t.h;c policy is undoubtedly a good one from a commercis.l view. There>is naturally a desire with the Ji^Ger class of work people to be em- ■ ployed under such liberal conditions asprevailatßournvillo, and so, doubtlessly, Cadbury's are able to secure the very best classes of labour. Then, again, people who are onao employed there never seem to have any, desire whatever to go elsewhere. "iVe dc not consider for a momsnt that Cadbury's were actuated by commercial motives in devising these various . schemes for the betterment. of their employees, but we are rather inclined to think that their good actions are in this way coming back to them.