NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY EMPLOYES BENEFIT SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3356, 10 January 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY EMPLOYES BENEFIT SOCIETY.

The first half-yearly meeting of the Christchurch branch of the above Society was held last evening in the accountant's room. There was a large attendance, among those present being Messrs W. M. Hannay (Secretary for Kail ways), Fredk. Back (General Manager), and A. C. Fyfe (Accountant). Mr Fredk. Back was voted to the chair, and said it was not his intention to have occupied the position of chairman that evening for several reasons, among them being that he was only an honorary member and not a subscribing member. He had, however, received a note that afternoon asking him to preside, and had consented to do so. There was a rule of the Society, he believed, existed that no honorary member should occupy the position of president or vice-president, but as lie had always taken an active interest in any Society connected with railway matters, he would act that evening as he had been requested to do so. He need not refer at length to the unfortunate affair which had attended the launching of their Society. They would have to begin de novo, but he hoped the effect of that blow would not be felt for long. They would hear a report read by the acting secretary (Mr T. Bain). His (the chairman's) opinion was that, to prevent such an occurrence for the future, they should appoint a secretary who would have a clerk to assist him, and Mr Fyfe had kindly promised that evening that he would, if desired by the members, assist and advise the clerk as to the manner in which the accounts should be kept. He would now call upon the secretary to read the report which had been prepared by the Committee.

" To the Chairman of the quarterly general meeting of the N.Z.R.E.B. Society, Christchurch branch.

" Sir, — On behalf of the Committee of the above Society, I have the honour to inform you that since our last general meeting the Committee have had some very serious difficulties to contend with. The first of these is the part acted by our late Secretary, vrho has managed to dispose of a considerable portion of the funds belonging to the Society, amounting, so far as we can ascertain at present, to the sum of £191 11s.

" It ia to be hoped, however, that this will not act as a deterrent to those who have joined our Society, but that they may put their shoulder to the wheel, and endeavour to make a fresh start, and so make our Society one of the most prosperous and beneficial Societies in New Zealand. Although the loss to us is very great, yet I think we shall be able to survive it, and where the health of the wives and families of ao many of our fellow workmen are at stake, I am of opinion that we cannot do wrong in at once seeing how the evil is to be remedied, and endeavour to recoup as far as possible the loss to those of our members who have been constant subscribers.

"I trust that before our next general meeting the new rules will have been distributed amongst you. I also hope that a complete roll of members shall have been made out, and that the different districts have been supplied with an accurate list of their own members.

" I also shall be glad to see the adoption of a method by which the subscription money may either be taken off the pay-sheet or may be retained, of course with the payee's consent, by Mr Ollivier, the cashier, when the wages are made payable.

"As matters now stand, seeing that nearly all our documents are in the hands of the Crown, it will be impossible to have the affairs of the Society audited, but I confidently hope that before our next meeting, which I trust is not far distant, we shall be able to render such an account of our stewardship as will meet with your approval, although it may apparently be most unsatisfactory to us all. " I am clearly of opinion that the sooner we have our Society registered the better, and bo far as I can ascertain there was nothing to prevent this being done at the outßet. It is most unfortunate that such was not the case.

" I shall ask that the subject of the doctors' passes be considered, and that the commissioner be respectfully requested to grant passes for the doctors on the same terms as on the year just expired. " I sincerely trust that the now year which we hare just commenced may be a new era in our existence, and that the Oliristchurch branch of the N.Z.R.E.B. Society may not only be one of the largest, but one of the most influential Benefit Societies in New Zealand." "Chas. Heaton, " Chairman of Committee.

Mr Bain then detailed the particulars of the breaking down of the indictment laid against the late Secretary. A fresh information hud been laid against Mr Valpy, and he believed the warrant would be executed that evening. Mr Ellis, Acting-Treasurer, would inform the meeting of the present state of accounts.

Mr Ellis read a statement of accounts showing that up to Dec. 31 there was a credit balance in favour of the Society amounting to £449 10s fid. This statement represented the exact state of the accounts, but had not been audited. No money had been received since Dec. 19.

The Chairman regretted that the statement submitted had not been audited. It would be the first duty of the Clerk or Secretary appointed that evening to prepare a balance sheet of the whole position of the Society, which should be closely audited, so that members would knosv the exact position of affaira.

In reply to a question as to outstanding monies, Mr Bain said they would only be able to get at that by calling in all the pence cards. He had been told that afternoon, both by Mr Duncan and Mr G-arrick, that he ought to inform the meeting that all the rules of the Society should be revised and placed on the minute book of the Society. Mr Duncan had also said tliat if the Society ■wished it, he would appear to prosecute the late secretary at the Magistrate s Court. In reply to a question, Mr Bain said that the pence carda had been called in, but they had not all been received.

Some of th» members present said they knew of receipts which had been given on the pence cards for money which had not been paid to the late secretory. The Chairman said it remained for the meeting to eay whether the late secretary

should be further proceeded against or not. Before they could Know their exact position they mußt, as he said before, appoint a secretary to draw out a statement, which would be audited by thoroughly competent auditors. Mr Walker hoped they would not go too high, for a secretary, as his payment would eat up all the subscriptions. (Laughter.) The Chairman would advise them not to go too low, as they might be taken on the hop as before. Mr Walker proposed— " That the auditors be requested to obtain a balance-sheet of the Society's affairs as soon as possible, and submit it to the next special general meeting." Mr Burgess seconded the resolution. Mi- Hannay pointed out the great amount of labour they were asking the Honorary Secretary to ' undertake. They would have to appoint a clerk, and why not do so at pnee ? and as he would be a paid officer, instruct him to prepare a statement to be submitted by him to the Auditors ? As the Chairman had said, they would again have to begin at the beginning, and they ought to hold every member liable for the money owing by him, unless he could bring proof that he had already paid it. In reply to a member, Mr Bain said that there existed certain statements and papers which would be a guide for the new Secretary, but these were now in the hands of the police.

A member present said that he knew of monies which had been forwarded to the late Secretary, and for which no receipt had been obtained. The Chairman said that as the meeting desired to first appoint a clerk, he would allow Mr Walker's motion to stand over. Mr Burgess moved— "That the Committee be empowered to appoint a clerk." Mr M'Williams seconded the motion. i Mr Hannay would like if they were to I appoint a clerk, they should do so at once and have no honorary secretary, hut elect a competent man for the work. |It would be seen if they did not do so they would be placing » great deal of responsibility on the shoulders of the hon secretary. The Chairman said he must agree with the views expressed by Mr Hannay. Mr Heaton desired to say that the revised rules, which were now in the hands of the police, stipulated for the appointment of district Committees, and Christchurch would then merely drop into a district, with power to elect one member to a central Committee for every 50 members on the district roll. The position of the clerk, if appointed that evening, would theu be done away with. Mr Burgess' motion for the appointment of a clerk was then put and carried. It was decided that the clerk's salary should be fixed by the meeting. Mr Hannay moved — " That the maximum salary which the Committee shall be empowered to pay the clerk be £200 per year." Mr Ennis seconded the motion, and, in a friendly spirit, criticised the action of the Committee in not looking a little more closely "after the siller" instead of spending their time cutting and carving the rules of the Society, which had already worked well in Otogo. Mr Walker moved as an amendment— " That the clerk only receive £150 a year when first appointed." The amendment was not seconded, and fell through. Mr Burke moved—" That the maximum sum which the Committee will be authorised to pay a cleric be not move than £300 a year."

Mr Morrison seconded the amendment.. On being put, only two hands were held up for the amendment, and the motion was carried. In reply to a question, Mr Heaton, Chairman of the Committee, said it was quite competent for that meeting to pass a resolution asking that the subscriptions might be deducted from the pay-sheet. Iu repl}- to a remark, the Chairman said he did not tliink there was any necessity to ask permission from the Government to deduct subscriptions in the manner stated. Their own cashier might deduct the amount if the Society desired that he should do so. After further remarks, it was decided on the motion of Mr Ashley, to call a special general meeting of the Society in a month, to rescind a resolution bearing on the stoppage of subscriptions on the pay-sheet, which had been carried at the last general meeting, and to transact any other business. A letter was read from Dr Bennett, Lyttelfcon, resigning his position as medical attendant to the Society, as he found the duties to interfere with his practice. The letter was referred to the Committee. The Chairman now put Mr Walker's motion relative to the auditors submitting a balance sheet to the next special general meeting of the Society. After some remarks from the Chairman on the business transacted during the evening, the meeting terminated with the customarv vote of thanks.