THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1980, 12 May 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1875.

The Thames Miners' Accident Relief Fund is in danger of dissolution. Unless the persons most interested in maintaining the fund —the miners—come forward, the association will • come to an untimely end. For a long time past no interest has "been taken in the management of the faud by the miners, and tho Committee do not ' feel called upon to keep the business going any longer while the interest in it appears to be so small. The committee meetings hate been poorly attended;-sometimes having to be adjourned for. want of a quorum. There have been no doubt many subscribers to the fund who hare not reaped any benefit, but they h^e teen in the Positi°n to apply for re*ie* *k'eir circumstances

required it. Their contributions, however, have materially benefited others; and there is little question but the organization has conferred i|pon members many advantages in time of Heed. Owing to various circumstances the subscriptions have very much decreased during the past half-year j so much so, indeed) [that claims have only been met by tho credit balance at last half-yearly meeting. The Committee recommend a public meeting, and this has been decided upon to test the feeling of the miners as to the desirability of keeping the fund going, and tho meeting is to taVe place in the Warden's Court on. -Monday next " It will depend upon the miners themselves whether,the fund shall be finally closed or started with now vigor. It has done good in the past, and it might: be made one of the most useful institutions; iii our midst; but the supineness of the minors has been the prime cause of tho present low ebb to which the fund has dwindled. It has been said that the Accident EeliefFund conflicts with the friendly societies in existence, but we can scarcely imagine how any corflict; can arise, i considering that the fund is raided for specific purposes not contemplated by ordinary benefit societies. It is true that a miner belonging to a benefit society and meeting with a accident would have a claim upon his society; but such a claim not invalidate any right he may have to further relief from the Accident Eelief Fund. Mining accidents are very often accompanied by circumstances which do not attend ordinary sickness, and it is then that the peculiar relief sought to be afforded by the Accident Fund comes most It r-is-j evident that if the institution is to be kept alive the miners themselves will have to take a more'active share in the management than they have done hitherto; and it will be for the meeting to decide whether the Society shall collapse, or start with'new life under different conditions of management.