UNION’S FUNDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 January 1931, Page 4

UNION’S FUNDS

DISTRESS AID WANTED

EXECUTIVE CRITICISED

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, 19th January

Tlie failure of the executive of the Federated Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union of New Zealand to use some of the union’s accumulated funds for the relief of distress among unemployed members was criticised at the half-yearly meeting of Auckland members. A statement of receipts and expenditure and a balance-sheet produced at the meeting showed that oil the 31st December last the union had £1533 in cash in the National Bank and £941 in the Post Office Savings Bank. Investments were valued at £10,887, and excess of assets over liabilities was shown as £13,393. It was reported that a resolution had been passed calling on the executive to make £SOO available for the relief of distressed members, relief to be made by way of loans which would be repaid into the union funds, but it was stated that the general secretary, Mr D. Kennedy, had said nothing could be done. Members said subsequently that there were about 60 cooks and stewards out of work in Auckland. Some of them had families, olid others had been compelled to seek shelter in the mission “doss” house. The union dues were four shillings a month, and they considered that the very healthy-state of the union’s finances justified them iu calling on the executive to provide some money for relief. a Pointed reference was also made tv a clause in the report dealing with the levy of 2s 6d a member made in 1926 for reasons given in previous reports, and to the clause’s tag: “The time has now arrived when we may have to call on the membership for another similar lew.”