RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15776, 18 December 1916, Page 9

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual general meeting of the Permanent Railway Employees' Sick Benefit Sosiety (Christchurch branch) was held on Saturday ovenitig, Mr W. S. Moyle, president, being in the chair. At the request of tho chairmrn the members stood in silence in respect to those of their oomradefl who had lost their lives defending tho Empire. The u.nnua.l report and balance-sheet, /which were adopted, stated that ono hundred and forty-two claims were made on the eick fund for sums varying from 10a to £22 10s, _ involving an expondituro of £525 13s 2d. Eight members and one member's wife hud died during the year and funeral allowances amounting to £170 wore paid to the relatives. A vote of members was taken on .tho question of funeral allowance for members with th© Expeditionary Forces, and tho majority were in favour of granting £10 in cases where a, member lost his life while with the military authorities and who had left dependant*!. One claim under this provision had been paid. The alterations made to the rules at tho beginning of the year enabled tlici Society to pay funeral claims without calling up levies. This, and the heavy claims made for eick pay on account of illness and accidents, was the reason that thero was no division of surplus. Tbo Society had been of great assistance to its members, and the reserve fund now wsa £343 Is 4d. Eightyone members enlisted with th© Expeditionary Forces, including four members of tho committeo. Nino had returned and resumed duty, four wero killed in action, leaving sixty-eight, at tho front or in camp. Ninetythree members joined the Society, three were received o ntransfesr, eoven wore transferred to other districts, forty-eight left, and eight died, leaving a membership of 730, mad© up as follows:—Financial mem beers 636, superannuated members 26, members at tho front 6S.

Tho following officers eloctod for tho ensiling year:—President, Mr A. E. JJowae; vice-president, M.r F. Allen : secretary Mj* AV. Anderson; treasurer,MrG.Mitchell; 'trustees, Messrs E. Mitchell and D. Munro; auditors, Mi-esra C. Is. Christio and H. Gillespie; committee: Loco Brandi, Messrs F. Ensor, F. Colliitgwcod, .T. A. Veit-ch, and A. G. Vatkina; Traffic Branch. Messrs J. C. Schneider, "A. A. Napier. A. E. "Wallace, and W. Veitch; Permanent Way Branch, Messrs J. MoodieJ T. E. Hill, W. O'Donnol, and G. Calvert; Works Branch, Meeere R. Miles, J. Cauldorwood, R. Purdom, and T. Trndgeon. The question of. alterations to fho funeral allowance fchemo was left in tho hands of a sub-cornmittoe to ©xplnin the position to tho members by circular, and t<4 take a vote of members on tho question. A vote of thanks was paesod to tho atationmaater for the t:<vo of the room, and to the retiring officers for their service*.