THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1189, 5 September 1867, Page 5

THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.

(From the People's Journal, J ana 16.) Tale of the huge blue books issued under the auspices of Parliament! Why, tho " Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths, and Pattern Makers " have something to show in the same line quite equal in point of size to the average Parliamentary blue book. The sixteenth annual report of the above society lately iasuod contains no fewer than 432 pages, each of which bristles with figures, and the whole presenting a mass of information interesting alike to the statistician and to the social reformer. The history of the Association affords a most convincing proof of the capacity of the industrial classes to achieve in this world something far more ennobling and exalted than Bimply to eat and sleep and work, which is about the measure of their capacity in the estimation of some people, who profess to be able to discover nothing under a moleskin jacket except thews and sinews and digestive apparatus. The Operative Engineers of Great Britain have proved their ability to organise a corporation whose ramifications extend to the remotest corners of the civilised world —a corporation which collects and disburses a sum of money yearly quite as large as the revenues of some independent German States—a corporation which pro Tides for Ub members when they are out of employment, or when they are temporarily incapacitated for labour, or when they are permanently disabled —a corporation which, while meeting all its obligations honourably, is yet enabled at the close of each fioanciul yoar to report large additions to its accumulated fund. We are not sure that Societies (whether commercial or benevolent) organised' and managed by hoiiourables and right honourables, are in all cases able to show such a satisfactory balance-»heet as the Amalgamated Engineers can do. All honour to these hardy sons of toil who have, by the organisation of this excellent Society, Bhown to the world that they cherish in their bosoms a proud feeling of independenae, which incites them to look to themsolves, rather than to the parish, for the means of subsistence when they are overtaken by ill health, accident, or old age. We are glad to see that the Society is 'still in a prosperous condition —still multiplying its branches—still adding to its membi whip—still augmenting its accumulated fund. At the end of last year it had 83,000 members, and an accumulated fund amounting to £188,113. The total income of the Society during 1866 amounted to the magnificent sum of £83,203, while the expenditure reached £60,448, the balanoe of £22,755 having been added to the acoumulated fund. The following items of expenditure will give a general idea of tho objects of tho Society : — Donations, sending members to situations, and beds for non-free members, £22,782 ; sick benefit and medical certificates, £13,712 ; superannuation benefit, £5232 ; funeral expenses, £5319 j accidents, £1600 ; benevolent fund, £851: grants and loans to other trades, £1860. Since the formation of the Society, sixteen years ago, it has expended no less than £535,573 on the above objects. We observe that the Society has upwards of thirty branches in Scotland, including the following townß :— Members. Income. Expenditure. £ £ Aberdeen .. .. 163 438 213 Arbroath .. .. 46 172 84 Dundee .. . < 268 701 363 Dunfermline .. 20 94 12 Inverness.. ~12 71 12 Kirkcaldy.. .. 103 263 162 Loehee .. .. 29 160 24 Montieth .. .. 18 51 41 Montrose ~ .. 17 60 25

Perth .. ~60 131 117 Stirling ~ ~ 12 39 29 From what we' can gather in regard to the object and operations of this society, from a pretty careful examination of the report, we have confidence in recommending such of our readers as belong to the various branches of the engineering profession to lose no time in joining it, as they will thereby secure many valuable advantages and privileges whioh they oanj not otherwise enjoy.