SUPERANNUATED PUBLIC SERVANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21997, 5 July 1933, Page 3

SUPERANNUATED PUBLIC SERVANTS

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Association of Superannuated Public Servants was held in the social hall at the goods yard yesterday the president (Mr F. T. Taylor) occupying the chair. The annual report stated that during the period under review the federation had decided to register under the Incorporated Societies Act. The membership at the close of February, 1932, had stood at 167, and at the close of the new term, June, 1933 ; (17 months interval), the number was 425. The accession of members from Invercargill and district was so marked that the time was now ripe for the establishment of a branch there. During the period every superannuated public servant in the Dominion had been circularised, with the result that there had been a large accession of members to the federation. In the application form attached to the circulars no provision was made as to the department the applicant had served under, so that no classification of membership could be given. The committee had held four meetings and one emergency meeting at the request of the executive to prepare data for the use of the federation in presenting its case before the special committee set .Up by Parliament to hear evidence in respect to the proposed amendment to the Superannuation Act; and one special general meeting to hear an address by the president, Mr W. Wright, of Wellington, who gave a resume of the evidence given by the various deputations before the Parliamentary Committee, which showed that very faithful representation of the case had been submitted. In the meantime the matter was dormant until the reassembling of Parliament. During the period the treasurer,'Mr J. C. Wilson, who had been in ill-health for a very long time, had resigned, and the secretary had been appointed to carry on. The sum of £ls was voted to the executive of the federation as the nucleus of a " fighting fund," and notwithstanding this there is a credit balance of £2B Os sd.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, referred to v the , events of the past year, and said that it was' very satisfactory to find that there was a credit balance.. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr F. T. Taylor'j secretary, Mr R. Farrant; treasurer. Mr D. Harris Hastings; auditor, Mr R. A. Johnston; collectors, Messrs J. M'Farlane and D. Campbell; committee —Mrs Dillon. Miss V. Campbell, Messrs C. M'Kenzie, J. Taylor, A. Thomas, A. Duncan. J. Robertson, A. Peters and M. Thomas (with power to add).

Mr J. Brown -was appointed the branch's delegate to the conference of superannuated public servants to be held in Wellington on July 26. Reference was made to the valuable services rendered by Mr Murray Thomson and a minute of appreciation was recorded.