of accidental death. All societies of this class provide for the relief or maintenance of widows and children of members, and some also for the care of parents or other dependents. Relief for disabled superannuated members (above 50 years of age in some societies and above 60 in others) is provided for by a few societies. The oldest society of this class is the Northumberland and Durham Miners' Permanent Relief Fund, founded in 1862. A series of mine disasters involving the loss of many lives gave an impetus to the formation of societies of this class, and others followed the general lines laid down by this oldest member of the group until each principal mining district had its own fund. An illustration of both the cause and method of the formation of societies of this class is to be found in the case of the North Staffordshire Coal and Ironstone Workers' Permanent Relief Society, which was founded in 1870 with the assistance of £3,000 ($14,600) received from the trustees of a fund subscribed to aid the sufferers of a severe explosion which had occurred a few years before. As stated in the rules of the society, its object is to raise funds by subscriptions from members and donations from others in order to make provision for members killed or injured in accidents. In case of fatal accidents, relief is administered in one or more of three forms, i. e., the payment of a sum at the death of a member, of a weekly allowance to the widows and orphan children of married members, or of a weekly allowance to parents over 50 years of age of unmarried members. In cases of nonfatal accidents the relief takes the form of a weekly allowance. The society is composed of two classes of members-honorary members, who pay dues and have a vote in the management of the society but receive no benefits, and ordinary members, who pay the usual weekly dues and are entitled to the benefits named below. A committee of management, composed of honorary and of ordinary members, conducts the affairs of the society. All the society's property, money, etc., is vested in three trustees, for the use and benefit of the society. To avoid litigation five arbitrators are elected each year who decide all disputes arising within the society. The members at each colliery are organized into local lodges, each having its complement of officers and its representative to the annual general meeting which elects the committee of management. The local officers collect dues, visit members receiving benefits, and see that the rules of the society are properly carried out. The committee of management is required to have a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the society made at least once in every five years, as specified in the Friendly Societies Act of 1875. The expenses of management are defrayed by the subscriptions of honorary members and by one-half penny (1 cent) per week out of All funds for the administration each full member's contribution. of the society are kept in a separate account. The following table shows the dues and benefits of some of the more important miners' permanent relief societies: CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS OF CERTAIN MINERS' PERMANENT RELIEF a In addition to the benefits named this society has a superannuation benefit of $1.22 per week. b For first 26 weeks. c Not paid when weekly benefits are paid to dependent survivors. d Payable also to dependent brother, sister, son, or daughter. e After first 26 weeks. 1 Seven cents if an employer contributes not less than 20 per cent of the amount contributed by his employees. g For first 2 weeks. h For first 5 years. For first child; 37 cents for each additional child, the total extra allowance not to exceed $1.22 per week. j For 50 weeks following first 2 weeks. *For second five-year period. 1 After 52 weeks. m For surface men. n For underground men. • After first 2 weeks; $1.22 after 60 years of age and after having received disablement benefit continuously for 5 years. p If weekly benefits are paid to dependent parents, $24.33. g For 6 weeks. For 3 years following first 6 weeks; may be commuted to a lump-sum payment of not more than $97.33. To widowed mother only. And an additional cash allowance of $12.17 if a widow survives. Most of the societies provide for a class of "half members," who pay half the regular dues and are entitled to half the benefits. As a rule this class is restricted to young persons and females and forms an unimportant part of the total membership. The financial status of seven of these societies is shown by the accompanying table, compiled for six societies from the reports for the years ending December 31, 1903 and 1908, and for one from the reports for the years ending December 31, 1903 and 1907. NUMBER OF MEMBERS, TOTAL RECEIPTS, PRINCIPAL EXPENDITURES, AND ACCU. MULATED FUNDS OF MINERS' PERMANENT RELIEF SOCIETIES. [Source: Annual reports of the societies named.] Some of the societies publish summary tables showing their status for each year of their existence. The figures given in the tables following are reproduced from the report of the West Riding of Yorkshire society for 1908, and show its growth since 1882. 67725°-VOL 2-11-6 |