CARING FOR EMPLOYEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 8

CARING FOR EMPLOYEES.

WELFARE WORK AT PORTLAND

SICK AND ACCIDENT SOCIETY,

Speaking to 'shareholders in Wilsons, (N.Z.) Portland Cement Co. to-day, the, chairman of directors, Sir George Elliot,, said: — "The tenth annual report of the Portland Welfare League, which controls.the social, sports and other activities in the village, shows that the year just ended has been highly successful from every point of view. Many activities contributing to the health and happiness .of employees and their families are carried on. All games are entered into with enthusiasm, and the Portland clubs are ddng particularly well in hockey, tennis, and. bowling. "Religious, services and Sunday school have been conducted in the hall, and shortly an Anglican church will he built on a site donated by the company. "With a "view to encouraging thrift and continuity of service, and to-provide a retiring payment for every employee who may become a contributor, the directors some years ago established a provident fund. This fund is subsidised by the company up to 2J per cent of the, wages of each contributor. Membership is quite voluntary, every employee may become a contributor, and the majority have availed themselves of the opportunities offered under the scheme. The fund, managed by a board of trustees, on which employees have representation, now amounts to' £14,000, and is accumulating steadily. All moneys are invested in trustee securities outside of the company.

"A sick and accident society has also )een established at Portland, and the :ontributions of employees are subsilised on a 50-50 basis. The objects of :he society are to provide financial issistance in times of sickness and accilent, a maternity allowance 'on the birth )f a child, and a gratuity on the death if a contributing employee or his wif<* "I am sure shareholders will heartily endorse the steps, which have been taken to provide of or the present and futitfd welfare of the company's employees" concluded Sir George. '