The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-27 00:00:00

£693 0 6

being an increase over last year of 511. 18s.
" 19 gratuities have been presented to 18 member,
amounting to 1091.
•' 108 members have received loans to the extent of
2,246/., being au excess of 1601. on the pi erious year.
On the 29th of 2,lay last, in accordance with the
resolution ( f the last annual meeting, one clerk was
elected to an annuity of 251., and two widows of clerks
to annuities of 151. each, waking together four clerks
and thirteen widows, at a charge of 2951. per annum.
" One of the annuitants elected in May, 1846, under
the initials S. W.,' has died during the past year,
leaving the number at presint four clerks and twelve

widows of clerks. •
" The report further stated that the expenses charged
to this department had been reduced from one-fifth to
one-tenth part.
" The Lalauce- sheet shows an increase in the funds of
4451. 15s. 10.1. during the past year.
" The trustees met at the office of the association on
-he 24th instant, and inspected and approved of the
balance-sheet of both departments.
" The board recommended that on the 24th of May
next, cne clerk be elected to an annuity of 251., and two
widows of clerks to unnuities of 1.51. each; and in the
event of no clerk offering, thee three widows be elected.
" The board have been occupied in reconsidering the
rules of this department, with a view to their amend-
ment, and the alterations contemplated will be submitted
to the members at a special meeting to be convened for
that purpose.
"The board express their regret that they do not re-
ceive that support from clerks which the benefits con-
ferred by this association would lead them to expect,
but hope that the increased co-operation of the mem-
bers during the present year will place this department
in a much higher state of prosperity.
" The assurance branch of this association contiaues
to preeress favourably.
" 391 policies for 77,1501., and 11 annuities, were
issued during the past year, and the stock increased to
10,0001., being double the amount invested during the
year 1849.
" The board of management, lastly, call upon all the
members to assist them in carrying out measures which
have for their object the goud of so large and so useful
a body of the community."
The SECRETARY also read a statement of the re-
ceipts and expenditure for the year ending 31st De-
cember, 1850, which showed that the receipts ex-
ceeded the expenditure, from the formation of the
association to this date, 12,4847. 6s. 4d.
The CHAIRMAN said, you have heard the report
which has just been read with an account of the
expenses for the past year, and I will only now re-
mark with respect to them, that though there is an
improvement, and an increase as regards the efforts
made by clerks to support the benevolent fund, yet
the result is very far short of what we wished and de-
sired to see. I shall probably say something more
with reference to the subject hereafter, therefore I
shall now content myself with congratulating you on
the general advancement, progress, and prosperity of
both the benevolent and benefit department, and sub-
mitting to you the adoption of the report, beg-
ging you to pass as a resolution that the re-
port should be received, printed, and circulated
at the discretion of the board of management. If
any gentlemen present should have any observation
to make either with regard to the management or any
suggestions to offer for improvement in the associa-
tion, probably this will be the most convenient time
to speak. In order to induce members to make those
observations which may occur to them, I beg to call
upon Mr. Jones, the chairman of the board, who is
desirous of making a few observations on the subject
of the report.—(Hear.)
Mr. JONES on rising was- received with cheers.
He said—l think this, Sir, is the best time to make
a few observations with respect to the report, seeing
that it will give members an opportunity subsequently
of alluding to and; thing which may fall from me. It
is, I assure you, extremely gratifying to the managers
that though they have not much to boast of in the
way of improvement, still there is some improve-
meet in this department—and I am sure all will
concur with me, that sunill as it is, it is of im-
portance.—(Hear, hear.) There is a trifling im-
provement over former years, and we are always too
hippy to be able to announce it. Still I hope, as I
know there is plenty of room for further improve-
ment, that we shall have greater success during the
present year. The report has alluded in general
terms to the contemplated alteration of the rules. As
this is a rneetinVat we cannot entertain any
observations on that point, as the subject will
be brought before you at a special meeting
convened for the purpose, I will merely say that
every attention will be given, as I promised this time
last year, to that question which is so important yet
so difficult to determine.---(Hear, hear.) I will not
say more on the subject, I merely make these obser-
vations because they will, perhaps, prevent discussion;
in fact, discussion cannot be raised on the subject,
es to do so would be irregular. I will only add
that a second meeting of our trustees and our
excellent' treasurer has been held, and we still
solicit their assistance to enable us to carry out
what we find to be a very difficult undertaking. It
is customary on these occasions just to allude to
what has been done during the past year. On the
present occasion I will do so briefly, because
many of the gentlemen present are anxious to
leave as soon as they conveniently can. As regards
the loans, we have heard it announced that the in-
crease has been considerable 'during the past year—l
think about 7001. Now, the money thus lent is on
many occasions evidently a source of great comfort
and advantage to the borrowers—(Hear)—but it in-
volves matters which are fraught with much trouble
and labour to those in the office as well as to the ma.
nagers. This we do not complain of, but lam sorry
to say I cannot help remarking that during the past
year the engagements entered into by the borrowers
have not been so faithfully fulfilled as on former oc-
casions. I speak generally, of course, and no one
knows to whom I allude. What. I say now, how-
ever, I hdpe will' go "forth in "the public
press, to-those who'are abseiit, whom I 'should wish
to know; it is of -essential- 'importance— inte-
rested as they all
,are—that they should be punc-
tual in the observance of ,their engagerneut.-7

(Hear, hear.) Whilo on gm same subject I would
observe that we, as managers, aie to act fOr a whole
hOdY, :and if in the exercise of four' duty we offend,
I ensure ,you it is ,With,lthal.greatest,,xegret; but
every one present must allow that. we have a duby to
perform, and:if in 'our anxiety to prbt,ent,the funds of
the association, parties are put to any inconienience,
or we are drivenstothenecessity'Oltaking.extreme Mea-
surea, tbe 4uleis theirs an4nnt;inirs., )1,c7.0.49 nofpro-
teed hastily, bUt only afterxe petite& apPlications, which
are ~often totally disregirdedillear), I think it
very necessary o:Make theie observations on a point
Of so. inneh,pnportenc'e.--7(lear.)
.V;ou have.heard
thPt we intend o.kopose 2111440,48 e in,tho yuniber of
annuitants. dtWe. feel thatiwel can: safely -do this,
otherwise ,we. should ,;not.% 'lave% lhoukhrtf bringing
such a proposition before you.—(Hear.) -- We feel.
that 'White we' have ftindefabtl'-there'stre Parties in need
we'ought not to withhold tbein: However, as iii4isbave
lost one • wiclow dUring the Aar, there WikiiVeilitY
beO:nly'art hiCreaseliftwO annuitants.. N4w, we think
we mpy safe'ly zna'ke that increase, and.hope the proposi-
tion will receive the:general approbation ofthe meeting.
As regards the situation bbOk,_ whist Is kept in
the office, I would' abseil e that it bai net been alluded
ito: in the, report, but on these scoa.siona alway,s think
,itk:mecessary to bring.the subject before•the meeting.
During the past, ybar the managers, havePadopted
new tbode of endeirrouring to make this'-more' Use-
by sending -a cirptiler to eery One Who adver-
tises in the Tunes for a• clerk.' it is. the duty of'One in
the office to search tbeadvertisingcolumns of the Times
every morning, and when he finds any parties. who are
in want of clerks,lo send, them. it. circular, togethq
•with a Proapectus ; and thus, besides doing a service
to indiyidusl memberi, we at thq same. time extend
a itnoWledge of the benefits of the, society. —(Hear.).
During the last. year, fourteen %gentleinen applied to
the office for clerks, and out of that number four
obtained situaiiohs—two at SOL a year, one at 1201.,
atid',obe at 150/.—(flear,' bear.) Therefore some
gb6d has been done ; cud though ire cannot get situa-
tiOns for every one; Who •Puts his 'lame: on the books,
still we do' all we can .to give him en opportunity of
obtaining employinent—(Cheers.) Then as regards
th,grainitiesi, We We6ild 'Here of. all that are
granted will just •iead''iwo three of them,
•.•
omitting to. mention, tging§, in accordance with
our. custom, . 6hserving ,that ,all the CEISES are
much of the same character.. The first is that of a
party who neglected to pay his premium in conse-
quence of misfortune in, business: Ho failed ; and
beibg unemployed, was dependent op a ton for the
84poit of himself Imo family. The society awarded
Mama gratuity of 101.—(Hear.) ,The next case is
that of a widow,.whose-husbauel:diert in Ootober last,
having her with six chilaren, the eldest of whom was
18 years of age. Owing to a long and expensive ill-

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