The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-01 00:00:00

MILLINERS AND DRESSMAKERS' PROVIDER;
AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The fourteenth annual meeting of this institution
was held yesterday evening at Willies Rooms, the attend-
ance cooeuting chiefly of ladies. The chair was taken by
Dr. Daiwa&
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, observed
that that institution was founded on the ides that
it was both expedient and practicable for milliuers and
dressmakers to make some provision for the day of difficulty,
of sickness, and of inability to work. That this wee expe-
dient was evident from the fact that many persons engaged
in those callings had no one to whom they could look for
assistance in time of need ; while his own experience, ex-
tending over more than • quarter oa century, showed how se-
rious were the diseases to which such persons were liable. That
it was practicable was dear from the fact that the members
of that society, with no larger means than others of their
class, had made some provision for the future.
The HON. SISCRETARY (Hr. W. Shuter) read the report.
It stated that daring the past year four new members bad
been admitted, and that the institution now consists of 127
' members, of whom 52 are life and 75 annual subscribes.
From the balance-sheet it appeared that during the year
ending the 31st of January, 1862, the receipts, including a
balance of 166/. at the commencement of the year,
amounted to 6401. 17s. 6d., and the disbursements (includ-
ing the investment of 3001. in Console), to 47M. No. 641.,
leaving a balance in baud of 1651. 91. Ten mem-
bers of the institution bad, it was stated, received
pecuniary relief during the year, the payments
made to
them amounting to 100/. lie. The greater part of this sum
had been awarded to ladies who would probably continue
pensioners upon the funds, their age and infirmities being
soh as to preclude the hope that they would be able to
maintain themselves without some provision from the in-
stitution. One of the earliest members died in September
last, after a painful illness, and she received a liberal allow-
' sum from the funds during the short time she required that
assistance. The institution had sustained a severe lass by
the death of Stephen Lewis, Req., one of its earliest and
most influential supporters. The directors had bad painful
experience that • greater amount of distress misted
among the aged milliners and dressmakers than
among the worn-out workers at any other Dwane's.
The usual lot of the majority of the persons engaged in
these trades appeared to be • life of unvarying toil, too
often closing in absolute destitution, or in dependence upon
the charity of friends. The relief account of the institu-
tion proved also that even the reasonable hope that the
young milliner or dressmaker would be shielded by marriage
from the vicissitudes of the future was too often fallacious.
Of the ter members who bad received relief during the pad
year, five were either married women whose husbands'
earnings were not sufficient for the support of their families
during sickness, or widows who derived their chief provi.
sion from the institution. The sum of 3001. bad been in.
vested dunng the past year. This was a smaller
addition to the permanent fund than the loved,
meets made in former years. The decrease was caused
by the demands made upon the income of the
iustitution for the necessities of its members. As these
demands would probably be renewed, the directors feared
that a longer time would be required to rallies the capital
of 10,0001. than they originally contemplated. They
trusted, however that the nobility and gentry and other
persons who felt interested in the prosperity of the workers
of all classes would bestow that patronage upon it which
would expedite the work.
Mr. TAVERNER inured the adoption of the report, which
was seconded by Mr. GARD, and carried.
Thanks were subsequently voted to the medical officers
of the institution for their attention to those of the members
who had required their assistance; to the donors and annual
subscribes for their liberal contributions to the funds of the
institution ; and to the vice-presidents, trustees, treasurers,
directors, and auditors for their prudent management.