TE KOPURU ACCIDENT RELIEF SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8404, 4 November 1890, Page 6

TE KOPURU ACCIDENT RELIEF SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Te Ivopuru Accident Relief was held in the Kopum Hall on * Saturday, October 25. Proceedings began at seven p.m., Mr. Joseph Molloy having been called to the chair. The minutes of the previous general meeting were ratified, and then the Chairman called upon Mr. A. Barclay, secretary to the Society, to read the annual report. This was done, and from it we gathered that the period under consideration was only ten months—namely, December to October. At the commencement of the period there was a balance in hand of £20, but about six months ago this was very considerably reduced, as the Society for a somewhat lengthened period was paying away £3 per week, whilst its income was under £1 per week. Since that time, however, the funds have accumulated sufficiently to enable the Society to pay a dividend of 2s 6d per full member, and still retain ~ balance of £20. The subscriptions received for the ten months amounted to £38 15s, and the amount of relief to £26 7s. Other expenses amounted to £6, including £1 for the printing of the by-laws. Only soma £4 of relief was claimed during the last six months —the first four having cost the Society over £20,, It was proposed that the money in hand should be placed in the Post Office Savings' Bank for the Society, in the name of two trustees —namely, A. Barclay and Charles Leabourn. It was also resolved that the men working at the Tatarariki mill be allowed to join the society on payment of an entrance fee of 2s 6d, and their subscription the same as present members. This to be subject to revision at next annual meeting if thought necessary. It was also resolved that subscriptions in future be paid monthly instead of fortnightly. Resolved also, "That in the event of any member of this society working for his living nt any other place than the mill, while the mill is stopped, meeting with an accident, the same shall be entitled to the benefits of the society." The election of a committee was then proceeded with, and the following duly elected : —Messrs. Joseph Molloy, G. Davidson, A. W. Legge, F. and G. Little, D. G. Stephens, and A. Barclay, with power to add one to their number from Tatarariki, if thought necessary. Messrs. W. J. Bassett and J. Brockliss were appointed auditors. Votes of thanks to the outgoing committee and chairman were passed, after which the secretary paid over the dividends to those present to receive them. The meeting was a very satisfactory one, and a marked contrast to that of the previous year. The late committee, most of whom have been re-elected, were highly pleased with the manner in which Mr. Barclay, their secretary, carried on the business of the society, and the clear and simple, yet efficient way in which his accounts were kept. This society was established a few years ago, and has been of very great service to all in the district. Its first funds were donated by Mr. Weston, the Wizard of the North, who, having been very successful in his entertainments at Kopuru, expressed a desire to contribute to some local object, and on the advice of some gentleman, Mr. Barclay I am informed, he handed over a substantial donation for the establishment of an Accident Relief Fund. Liberal assistance was also rendered by Dr. Campbell, and the society then founded has succeeded well ever since. The subscription to the society is only 3d per week, and the benefit assured £1 per week ; and should the funds accumulate the surplus is divided annually. Were it not for the society, the hat would often have to be sent round, and such would not be always pleasant to the givers or even to the recipient. Donors would much prefer to contribute a small sum weekly to meet such contingencies, and the injured man is in a much nobler and happier position in taking his weekly allowance for which he has paid from the Relief Society, than in accepting the charity, often unwillingly bestowed, of his neighbours.—[Aratapu Correspondent, October 28. J