The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS ASSOCIATIOY.

On Wednesday evening a meeting of the members of
,he benevolent department of this institution was held

at the London Tavern, Biehopegate-atreet ; T, Hankey,

Esq., M.P., in the chair.
The SECRETARY (Mr. W. Linford) read the following
report and balance-sbeet
" The Board of Management beg to submit to the mem-
bers and friends of this fund their sixteenth annual report.
The income for the year 1856 has been as follows :
Donations, 3101. ss. ; 315 old subscribers, 4161. 153. 641. ;,
49 new ditto, 601. 18s.; 4 life ditto, 42!.; subscriptions
from assurers—viz., 2,234 at 55., 5581. 10s.; 79 at 108.,
391. 10s.; 2 at 10s. GJ., 11. is.; 13 at 20;., 1:31.; inte-
rest, dividends, &c., 6711. 124. Sd.; total, 2,143/. 10s. 2d.
The above sum exhibits an increase of 1611. ISs. 3d. upon
the income of the preceding year ; while, on the other
hand, the expenditure has been somewhat augmented by
the endeavours of the board to bring this valuable institu-
tion more fully before the notice of the 'public, and by
the increasing expenses attendant upon the election
of annuitants. On the 30th May last, in pursu-
auee of a resolution of the preceding annual general
meeting five additional annuitants wore elected, viz.—
One clerk to an annuity of 25/. ; four widows to annuities
of 151. each. Two annuitants have died during the year,
and the number at present on the fund is 46, fur a total
annual sum" of 81E/. The board now recommend that
additional annuities, not exceeding 751., be granted. A
resolution in accordance with the above will ba submitted
to the meeting. The gratuities awarded to deserving and
necessitous members during the year amount to 146'. 10s.
The applications for loans continue to bo extremely nume-
rous ; 118 loans, for an aggregate sum of 2,3031. 10s , have
been granted daring the past twelvemonths, making
total of more than 25,0001. advanced in this manner I

since the system a granting loans has been in operation.
The present capital of the fund (which has been increased
since the last report by 6121. 13s. 6•1.), now amounts to
16,0831. Cs. 2d. Although this result doubtless presents
souse reason for congratulation ; and although much good
has certainly been effected, the board cannot but feel some
regret that after a period of 16 years au institution possess-
ing such peculiar claims to sympathy and support in a
great commercial community, should not ha vereceived them
in a far greater degree, both from the body it was origi-
nally intended to bnietit, and also from the general public.
The board, however, though somewhat disappointed by the
result o !their past efforts, cannot but believe that, among
a class possessing, as the clerks of this country must, a
high degree of education and intelligence, the value and
importance of such en institution as the Provident Clerks'
Benevolent Fund will iu time be, as it deserves, fully ap-
preciated. In making the recommen lotion which they
have done for the election of additional annuitants, the
board feel they have gone as far as prudence will permit ;
they fear, however, that the amount will be inadequate to
meet the cases likely to be brought forward. They there-
fore beg to urge m; st strongly upon the present members
the desirability of making the institution known as widely
as possible, and they call upon the clerks as a body
to examine for themselves the principles upon which
it is founded, and the benefits which it confers.
While thus appealing to the clerks, the board cannot, how-
ever, but feel that they have good ground for seeking also
the-aid of the principals, to whom the welfare of their
clerks must ever be a subject of deep importance. The
board, therefore, trust, by bringing this fund fully before
the notice of the commercial public, many of whore have
not yet contributed to its aid, probably from the fact of
being unacquainted with its distinctive features, that an
amount of support may be secured which will speedily en-
able them to meet the case of every deserving applicant.
The balance-sheet has been duly audited, and can be ob-
tained by any member of the fund on application.
(Signed) "THOMSON ELI NK EY,
Chairman."

The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, you have heard the
report read, and the statement of accounts, as well as
the balance-sheet of the association, which has been
some time in the bands of every tnemb,r, and I really do
not think that they require any particular remark from
me to recommend them to your approval and adoption.
(Hear, hear.) It is now 16 years since this association
was first started, and, as the repor:, states, it has not, per-
haps, made so much progress as the managers desired.
It had not, I confess, made quite so much progress lts I
could have hoped—(hear, hear)—but at the same time
I cannot say that I think any one is justified in a--
serting that it has made no coneiderable progress,
be-
cause, when we remember that from the funds of this
institution very nearly 50 persons who have been brought
i I
up under similar circumstances to those who formed t
it
have been relieved—(hear, hear)— must be a source
of grat'fieation to us that we
have effected so much
good. (Hear, hear.) Ido not think it can be otherwise
than to a considerable degree satisfactory also to those
merchants, bankers, and others who in the first instance
by their contributions started the formation of this in-
stitution ; but it undoubtedly would have been more so
if the institution were now conferring greater benefits.
I can only attribute this state of things to want of time,
and I hardly believe that those who really consider the
subject and its great advantages can feel otherwise than
disposed to support it. (Hear, hear.) I can well under-
stand that there are great difficulties in the way of giv-
ing that support to the institution which those who are
perhaps in easier circumstances of life would gladly see
it receive. I have been too long connected with those
in the position of clerks in London not to be aware of
the great difficulties with which they have constantly to
contend. (Applause.) It is impossible for me to forget
it from day to day in the discharge of my duties at the
Bank of England, and if I were possibly inclined to do
so, the position which I bold as an Income-tax Commis-
sioner would prevent it, from my having to sit day by
day to hear those heart-rending appeals and statements
that are made by many of the members of that class,
who are interested in such an institution as this.
(Hear, hear.) It is impossible for any one possessed of
that information not only not to commiserate but to be
able to appreciate fullythe difficulties with which this (+Ass
has to contend, and undoubtedly they have had far
greater difficulties to contend with during the last three
or four years than during an average of 20 years pre-
ceding. (Hear, hear.) At one period there appeared
to be a constant diminution in the price of almost every
article of food, but during the last four or five years
there has been a continual rise in the price of every ne.
cessary of life, whilst I feel satisfied that the remunera-
tion paid to clerks has not received that addition—l
will not say that ought to be made to it—but