SUPERANNUATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21257, 11 February 1931, Page 13

SUPERANNUATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Association of Superannuated Public Servants (Otago branch) was held in the Social Hall, goods yard, yesterday afternoon. The president (Mr F. T. Taylor) occupied the chair, and there were 11 members present. The secretary (Mr 11. Farrant) reported that the following members had passed away during the year:—J. H. Menzies, J. Newlands. A, H. M'Lean, R. Morrison, G. Leslie, K. M'Lcnnan, A. Duncan, R. Caldow, Miss J. Cairns, and Miss J. Callender. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr R. Farrant, it rvas resolved: — “ That this branch tenders_ its deepest sympathy with the sufferers in the earthquake disaster in the Hawke’s Bay district, and that a donation of £5 be made towards the relief fund.” The annual report of the committee was as follows: —“In submitting the eleventh annual report, your committee is satisfied that the efforts of the association arc being realised in that the Government is recognising the claims of our society. Mr 11, E. Gilbert, honorary secretary of the federation in Wellington, writing in July, among other items stated: —‘Matters'in Parliament are in such a state of chaos at present that I think it will be a matter of impossibility to interview the Prime Minister for some time, and as wholesale reductions are imminent there is very little hope of our association receiving any further help for superannuitants this year. Our executive in Wellington is keeping in close touch with all matters pertaining to our aims. A matter which has recently engaged its attention is the question of the levy under the Unemployment Bill. On the publication of the details of the proposals in this regard, immediate apph* cation was made to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Labour (who was in charge of the Bill) for exemption from the proposed levy in favour of superannuated public servants. This is but one of the many instances in which the vigilance of the association has been exercised to safeguard the interests of ex-membera of the public service. At the annual meeting of the federation, held in August at Wellington, the president-elect, Mr G. Girling-Butcher, said that ‘the association had been inaugurated and continued to exist solely for the benefit of ex-public servants. Every member was urged to use all possible effort to induce those eligible to become members, for it must surely be obvious that with advancing years the membership must gradually decrease by deaths alone, and if the interests of superannuitants were to be adequately protected and preserved, new members must be secured to take the place of the veterans who had borne the heat and burden of the day.’ The membership of the Otago branch is as follows: —Railway 71. education 31, defence 4, lands 1, internal affairs 3, public works 1, Post Office 9, telegraph 2;—total, 122. The balance sheet shows a credit of £2l 9s 3d.” On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr C. M'Kenzie, the annual report was adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows;—President, Mr F. T. Taylor (re-elected); secretary, Mr R. Farrant (re-elected); treasurer, Mr J. C. Wilson (re-elected); auditor, Mr R. A. Johnston (re-elected); collector, Mr Murray Thomson (re-elected); committeeMrs Dillon. Miss Campbell, Messrs J. M‘Farlane, J, Taylor, W. Graham, H. Thomas, C. M'Kenzie, W. Smith, A. Gilchrist, W. Rowe. J. Tohill. Mr J. Taylor urged that efforts should be made to increase the membership. He was sure that many retired public servants did not know of the existence of the society, and if the society and its objects were only brought under their notice they would, in their own interests, become members. He hoped the committee would make arrangements to bring the society under • the notice of retiring public servants. A vote of condolence with Lady Sidey in the loss sustained by her in_ the death of her mother was carried in silence, members standing for a brief space. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.