The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-04-21 00:00:00

between their own and the other county asemietions, by
erNeh their members who were forced to Wye the
aunty could have • doctor. An instance of the Injury
which arose from want of this lately came under his
own notice. One of their memben, who had procured
. work in Wiltshire and was takes ill, wreee him word
that the whole of his sick pay was expended by paying,.
doctor. He (Mr. Harvey) therefore treated that this
subject would not be lost sight of--(heaz bear).
Mr. Bingham said, in reply to Mr. Roberts and Mr.
Harvey, that with regard to increased remuneration to
the stewards, as they were paid out of the honorary
subscriptions, and these had fallen off during the past
year, he did not think the trustees would he able to
raise their pay at present. He should he most happy,
and he was sure the trustees would, if they could do so.
With respect to the suggestions made by the meeting at
Blandford, some of them hail virtually been adopted,
and the others it wee found could not be carried out
without • total alteration of the rules, which was an
expensive and difficult tting to dn. At any rata, they
would not take any action till they had the quinquenniel
returns, and if they found that the society wee in math a
position ea to allow it, they might be able to increase
the allowance to stewards. Mr. Bingham then explained
how it was that (mations appeared in the sick pay
solemn of the report, nod then proceeded to explain
the difficulties experienced in bringing about an
amalgamation of the county friendly societies, and said
that the terms which were proposed for members to
have the benefit of medical advice who left this county
were so exorbitant that it was impossible to entertain
them.
Mr. AL Williams then proposed "the health of the
Chairman," and after expressing his regret at the
unavoidable absence of the president, Reid they were
all greatly indebted to his brother for his kindness that
day—(cheen).
The Chairman responded, and said that when he was
• curate in Staffordshire he saw a good deal of the old
clubs, and the evil influence produced by their holding
their meetings in public-houses. He was also much
struck with • case which came before the °mute • short
time since, in which • member of, he believed, a society
called the Friary Society, brought an action Ito recover
£7O which had been taken not of the funds towards
presenting Kr. Beau, of the Reform League, to a testi-
monial. Now Reform might be very well, but it was
' most unreasonable that £7O should be taken out of a
benefit society's funds towards it. He was glad to know
that such a mimppropristion of their funds could not
take place, and he congratulated them on the increase
of members, and that two new branches had been
' established. Mr. Lownstes had spoken of their society
so one encouraging honest independence, but he would
look upon it in another point of view. The relief they
received was their own. They could demand it u their
right, and am even • cabbage garden wee prisel by the
' poor man because it oas his own, sad a poor tend
' cottage regarded as his castle bemuse it was his home,
' so they should prise the society because it was their own
--(cheem). The Chairman concluded by proposing the
health of the "Medical Officers."

Mr. Leach and Mr. M. 0. Spooner responded. the
latter gentleman expres.ing his opinion that to avoid
any unfair conduct by the members they ought not to
be allowed to belong to any other society, for it wu
impossible for them, as medical men, to say to •
member who complained of a pain in his back or
shoulder, to say that he had not, and souse, he believed,
kept on the bon, and belonged to other societies when
they were able to work, because they had more in sick-
nen then when at wort. With regard to memb•rs
leaving and going into other counties, he could not
see any difficulty in their having medical advice, if
they were to go to the doctor of the district, and
arrange with bini the same se was dons with the
Foresters and Oddfellows.
The health of Mr. Norman was then given and
responded to, and the meeting broke up.
A variety of sports, including dancing, jumping over
hurdles, Ice., took place in • deld near it. railway, and
• very pleasant evening was spent by the members and
young people of the plum.