THE A.S.L.E. AND F.

Sir, -- Railwaymen in general must have notices the desperate efforts being made by the combined forces of the A.S.R.S. and the Old Society to stem the tide of progress, which is everywhere being made by the Associated. The strikes one as rather a curious coalition after what has been said from time to time by those in authority. The A.S.R.S. would have us believe that a Friendly Society is quite a secondary matter with them, while the Old Society, when it has been approached by the Associated, has expressed a kind of horror of a trade union, yet now we find the two joining hands in a sort of unholy alliance. When will enginemen and firemen open their eyes and be able to see that both them and their Society are being used as a tool in the hands of A.S.R.S. leaders? The way they manage to advertise themselves at these meetings ought to be enough. They certainly do find room for the report of meetings held by our Old Society, but this only goes to show their hand all the more, because at the same time they confess they cannot find room for trade union matters. I see Mr. Bell has been, as one of your correspondents put it a short time ago, bellowing at Leeds, and the result is a column in the "Review"headed "Mr. Bell and the Engineers." They may take him seriously in Leeds, but those of us who know Dick, and have worked with him, cannot help a broad smile when we read such sentence on the following: "Between the two meetings a deputation of Midland firemen waited on ME for advice and information with regard to their movement. Every opportunity was given the engineers, etc., and I received high praise for "Lex," and was complimented myself by loco. men for showing them the light." now for bombast this would be hard to beat, and when we remember that the man who in his ignorance thus insults the enginemen and firemen of this country is an ex-goods guard, we cannot but wonder that the whole footplate fraternity do not rise in arms against him, and for ever give him a wide berth for his audacity; and I would here remind my fellow footplate workers that it is because we have allowed such men to think and act for us in the past, that we are in our position. Surely it is high time we awoke and told this ex-goods guard and his clan that we need their lights no longer as head lights, but simply as tail lights, as per rule. Surely the Midland firemen are not going to be so easily gulled. Have they so soon forgotten the failure of a few years ago as to be carried away with a little notice in the "Review"? Let the A.S.R.S. answer the questions put by me a few weeks ago re the meeting at Manchester. It is also amusing to watch the figures given by them as to the number of loco. men in the A.S.R.S. When the Associated had 6,000 they had 9,000; now the Associated has 8,000 they have 12,000. And I suppose in a short time hence, when the Associated has 20,00 they will have 30,000, although there are only a little over 30,000 in the country. Enginemen and firemen may take it for granted (and especially let this be a tip to Midland firemen) that the days are gone by when anything substantial can be done except by a large majority being in a Society of our own, or a by a national conference on the lines laid down by our representatives at Leeds in November last. This being so, I trust that enginemen and firemen throughout the country will give this their hearty support.

OLD ENGINEMEN

Swansea, February 8th, 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- Seeing that you were kind enough some time ago to publish correspondence re the amalgamation of the two Societies of Enginemen, and Firemen. I now ask you to kindly publish the following few extracts from a circular issued to the branches of our Old Society by the General committee, which looks very much like a confession that what was then said by one of your correspondent as true, and the truth of it must have been known to the General Committee, and this who then opposed amalgamation. The following are the extracts;

16, Howard Street, Eccles Road, Salford, June 13th, 1896.

The General Committee find themselves once more under the necessity of introducing the subject of a delegate meeting which they desire may be held after ample time has been allowed for consideration by the members of the special difficulties under which the Society is at present labouring. All that has hitherto been done, proves to have been insufficient and totally inadequate to meet the growing demands of the pension fund. The strain on the general funds has been prolonged, until they are now nearly exhausted. It is quite evident that in view of the steady depreciation of the Society's capital the pension fund has not yet been put on a sound basis. The responsibilities so nobly undertaken by the branches have already increased their liabilities beyond their strength. If the increased liabilities re to be met in the straight forward and many spirit of the Society's intention, the additional contributions to be paid by each member, and set aside for that purpose, must be sufficiently increased, but otherwise the deficiencies can only be stopped either by suitable arrangements for strictly limiting the allowances paid, within the amount of the contributions t present subscribers, or else, abolishing the pension fund altogether."

The above are the words of the General Committee. I well remember the words of one of your correspondents to the effect that if amalgamation id not take place, another delegate meeting would soon have to be held, to further reduce benefits, or raise contributions. That prophecy is now about to be fulfilled, and causes no surprise to those of us who have watched the position or our Old Society for the last few years, but what one does wonder at is the indifference of the members. We find here the same indifference that can nearly always be attributed to the hard headed British workmen, viz.: - leaving all the thinking to be done by other for him and, when too late, crying out. Why should we leave the destinies of a society like ours in the hands of a few, who have shown by their actions from time to time the A.S.R.S. is their first consideration? During the whole of the controversy in your columns, not one argument was brought forward. Why should not we amalgamate with the Associated, who are men of our own calling and have he'd out the hand of friendship for the past fifteen years? The whole of the correspondence simply went to show that there was no argument against it, but that it is the shower cusssedness of a few that is keeping us apart and has brought our Old Society to the position set forth in the circular, which means that we must either pay an increased contribution of about 8s. per year, or that we must be content to receive out just what the General Committee say the Society can afford to pay, or abolish the pension fund altogether  -- a pleasant prospect for 511 old men and cripples now n that fund, and for those who have paid in all their lives with the hope of receiving a little from this particular fund when no longer able, through old age or accident, to battle with the present evil social system, for the bare necessaries of life; and this is not all, for I venture to when the delegate meeting has been held and contributions increased, or the pension members deprived of the little they now receive, it will only suffice for a short time, seeing that our Old Society has been steadily on the decrease both in funds and members for some years. I find last year the decrease in funds is nearly £3,000 and 43 members, and should the pension fund be abolished or contributions increased many will at once with draw. What then remains to be done? There are only two courses open -- either amalgamate and thus have one good Society, or allow our Old Society to dwindle away. I ask the opponents of amalgamation to ponder this well over, and answer it in any other way if they can, and at the same time let me say to the members in general, if you allow yourselves to be thus deprived of what you have paid for simply to satisfy the whims of a few, it serves you right. Let them act like men, and demand a vote of the members on this question, and not allow the old ship to sink while another stands by and offers to take her in tow.

A MEMBER

Swansea, July 11th, 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- Doubtless some of your readers will wonder why I made no reference in my last letter by "Not Sandy," which appeared in your issue of the 3rd inst. The only reason is, I had not seen it, as my newsagent disappointed me that week with the "Herald," or I should certainly have devoted a few lines to him. Now my attention has been called to it, I hope you will give me a letter space this week. He begins by saying the "Herald" has a large circulation among enginemen and firemen, and a little ventilation on the subject of the Pension Fund of our old society through its columns would, no doubt, rouse the members from their apathy; he then quotes from the General Committee's circular, says he cannot see that I spoke in favour of amalgamation at Leeds in November last, and hopes no one will be led away by mom amalgamation clap trap; and then closes by referring to what Mr. Hunter said on registration; and so we find that what he says at the beginning would be a good thing, he makes no attempt to do -- viz., to ventilate the position of the Pension Fund. So that his attempt to blackball me savours more of the red herring and clap trap he speaks of when referring to me. Surely, if he was in Ernest, he would have thrown out some suggestions, but we find not a word. Like others of his clan, to him silence is golden in this matter. He knows there are but two things to do -- either amalgamate and have one good strong society instead of two weakening each other, or carry out the recommendations of the General Committee's circular, which is to raise the contribution to such an extent that members would leave wholesale or abolish the fund altogether. /Now, I make bold to tell "Not Sandy" and the members generally that if they consider the matter till Domesday they cannot get away from this while we have the Associated in opposition, because, as already stated in my letter last week, according to suggestion made we shall have to pay nearly as much for sick benefit alone in our old society as is paid in the Associated for sick and trade union benefits combined; and to which, I ask, will enginemen and firemen naturally go in these days of competition? The only natural and common sense way of dealing with this matter, then, it to neutralise the opposition by amalgamation; but this does not suit the few leading lights in our old Society whose affections are centred on the A.S.R.S. And nowI in turn ask the members to put on their considering caps, and to tell this gentleman if he is "Not Sandy" neither are they green, or at least, not green enough to allow such as he to bring our old Society to the dogs to suit their fads. The issues is simple; our Society has been, and is, going back, year by year, because of the opposition f the Associated. We cannot annihilate this opposition. The  A.S.R.S. has tried by every means it can invent, but it stands firmer today than ever, and, to its honour, be it said, has held out the hand of reconciliation all through the piece. What we must do, then, is to accept the inevitable, and at least try to bring about amalgamation. If we fail, we shall have the satisfaction of knowing we have done what we could. With reference to my action at Leeds re amalgamation, the question was not reached until the Saturday morning, when I had to leave for home; but I found during the week that it was in abler hands than mine, and so I could leave it with those who had not so far to travel and could stay to see who had not so far travel and could stay to see it through. Now, a word as to what Mr. Sunter said. "Not Sandy" seems to think he has discovered something here, because Mr. Sunter said the Registrar did not take notice of the liabilities of trade unions, but did take notice of the liabilities of friendly societies. Would he have us believe that a society is helped because the Registrar takes notice of its liabilities? My experience is that it has been more of a hindrance than a help in the case of our old Society, and if we do not change our position it will ultimately bring dissolution sooner than it would other wise come. Perhaps "Not Sandy" will show us how society can pay £1 out of 10s. because the Registrar takes notice of its liabilities? If so I have no doubt many will be glad to hear from him. Until then let us endeavour to close our ranks by making our two societies one, which, I trust, will be the first plank in an ultimately complete platform from which we can make know our wants and wishes, and finally obtain redress for the many grievances under which we at present labour.

Since writing the above I have read Mr. Wray's explanation, and find that 50 years of age we should be called upon to pay 12s 4d., 12s. 10 1/2d., and 13s. 5d. per quarter. does Mr. Wray or anyone else suppose that young men will join a society with this prospect n view they can join another society consisting of men of their own grade, and receive sick superannuation and trade protection for the same contribution? I say no; and as the last state would be worse than the first, my contention is that we are not justified in bringing this heavy contribution on the members until we have tried every other means. Fellow members, do not allow yourselves to be compelled to pay this heavy contribution (or to withdraw, as I know many would) until every other means has been tried, as I contend that if we had one society, instead of two, this would not be necessary.

W. WARWICK

Swansea, October 17th. 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- Mr. Wray evidently falls back on the tactics of many of those, whose arguments are untenable -- i.e., he would coax one into the belief that "black" was "white." He says that instead of the men at 50 years of age having cause to complain, why under his scheme, would have to pay 4d. a week extra to the pension fund, it is the member at 35 years of age, who at that age commences to pay 1d.extra to it. Mr. Wray's letter is, in short, so much "talkee -talkee." He says the men who join the Society now are paying 6d. per quarter more than members who are joined prior to 1892, and men over 25, 1s. Very good. That proves that men are penalised according to age at joining, which all will admit to be only right. I was thus penalised. I joined just after I turned the age of 30; consequently, paid the penally of 30s. entrance fee, and my quarter's contribution is 9s. 2d. Now, although I pay extra through joining after a certain age, I am to pay, or be taxed, for growing older after joining. The proportion of Mr. Wray is most outrageous, and I certainly doubt that 16 branches have voted for it. If they have, it will be to their credit to rescinding such resolution. I would ask Mr. Wray where the business principles of his propositions come in. All distinctions of age are levelled also liabilities, unless all share alike at the time of joining, by the different scales of contributions. Therefore any further necessity to increase the contribution should be met by a levy on every member, and unless this is done the Society will before long break up. The only and fairest way of meeting the deficiency is to make a further levy of 1d. per week on every member. This will realise over £2,000 per annum, which sum, I am sure, will be ample to meet all demands, and no right thinking member can find cause to grumble.

TOM KENEALLY

London, October 18th, 1896

--------

Sir, -- It is quite natural that W. Warwick should think that any proposition or attempt to federate the above Society with the Associated will be opposed by the A.S.R.S. It is not average member, however, who aims at accomplishing our dissension and distantly, but certain of the A.S.R.S. officials, who undoubtedly are evilly disposed towards us, besides being self seekers. It is the "schemers" who compile the "Review" who are the cause of so much mischief. They set, or try to sat, grade against grade, and often bring frivolous charges of one sort or the other against Companies; they do their best to create all round strife, and bodily assert the remedy for an amicable settlement lies with them, and with them only. I am impelled to speak these unpleasant truths, albeit a member. Clubs Union Buildings are assisted to break up the common brotherhood of railwaymen by such men as "Lex," "T. London," and a few others, and it will not flatter the common sense of railwaymen if they succeed.

JOHN TROTT

London, S.E., October 18th, 1896 

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- I think the old Society is of the past. It is all very well for Mr. Wray to try and get young members to join, but he does not place in their hands Mr. Brooks' last appeal, which tells the members something must be done or else the pension fund will fall. Two members, who will very soon go on this fund, with some more (ten in all, I believe) got up a banquet to build up this decayed pension fund, and in the report of the banquet proceedings we are informed that £448 was subscribed towards it; but when we turn to the balance sheet it show £235 only, so that £213 is wanted.This was good work done for a good cause, but at the same time it does not state whether the ladies were served with dinner and wine. If so, it will account for a part of the £213. Young men should look at this pension fund and see whether there is any money or not. I am an old member of the old Society, but. I look get my pension out of the Associated Society, as the same committee is on again this year to work up the pension fund.

PEDLAR PALMER

King's Cross, October 24th, 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- In answer to Wm. Warwick, may I reply that I have not yet seen that he himself has thrown out any suggestion for the benefit of the members the L.S.E. and F.F. Society? He has certainly advocated amalgamation, but he has advocated amalgamation, but he has advocated amalgamation in the interest of the Associated; and I repeat what I said in my last letter, "that he has trailed the red herring across the scent of the members of the old Enginemen's Society, to try and divert their attention from their pension fund, and direct their attention from their pension fund, and direct is to the Associated Society." Not that he wants attention directed to the Associated Pension Fund. Oh, dear, no! He himself knows that in a very few years, at the present rate of contributions and liabilities, their pension fund will be in a far worse state than the old Enginemen's is at present (and goodness knows that is bad enough); but he thinks that the majority of young men nowadays have had a better eduction the either of us; therefore  we cannot fool them with pie crust promises.

One word more on the amalgamation question. W.W. must know that amalgamation has been rejected at the delegate meetings of both societies; he also must be aware that amalgamation between a friendly society and a trade union is impossible, so that it is useless to talk about amalgamation any longer. If he is in earnest, let him come forward with some schemes which would put the pension fund of either the Associated or the old Enginemen's on a sound financial basis. If he can manage to show us how to do it without increasing the contributions he is the man we want -- let him come forward. There is one more point in his letter. He says, referring to registration, would I have him believe that a society is helped because the Registrar takes notice of its liabilities? Further on he asks if I will show him how a society can pay £1 out of 10s. because the Registrar takes notice of its liabilities? I say most decidedly, that a society is helped because the Registrar take notice of its liabilities? If we members of the old Enginemen's had been guided by the recommendations of the Actuary in 1881 - 1885 and 1888 we would not need to discuss the pension fund today -- it would have beeb settled long ago. Neither the Registrar nor anyone else can pay £1 out of 10s., but the Registrar can and does show the members that the Society has promised to pay them £1, when it has only 10s. to pay the £1 with. If the members cannot take such a broad hint as that it is their own fault, not the Registrar's/ The main object of an actuarial quinquennial valuation is to show whether the present contributions ill meet the future liabilities or not, and I can quite understand why the officers of the Associated do not want the members' attention drawn to the matter, seeing that they never had an actual valuation yet, and that Rules 40 and 41 in their Rule Book (which refers to valuation of the Society every fifth year) have never been carried out. They do not want the members to see that they have only got 10s. when they have promised to pay £1.

NOT SANDY

Liverpool, October 30th, 1896

-----------

Sir, -- I should be thankful if you can spare me a space in your well read paper in answer to a letter written by "Not Sandy." Perhaps he is the one who sent the circulars about Sandhill. "Twelve reasons for joining the L.S.E. and F.F.S." 

The 1st reason given in which is that it is composed of enginmen and firemen (granted);

2nd, because it is very economically worked (the least said on that the better);

3rd, because it has been in existence for over fifty years, and, therefore, has been properly tested (and found wanting);

4th, because it has honourably met all just claims (ask some old members at Sandhills);

5th, because there has never been such a thing as reduced pay, which is the case with a great many societies (and yet we find they took off £3 at the death of a member, reduced the sick allowance from 52 weeks to 26 weeks at 10s. per week, and struck off the pens fund all in receipt of over a pound per week, thinking by this to build up the Society -- still the balance sheet for 1894 shows a deficit of £1,157); 

No. 7, they tell us at the end of 1894 they had £79, 338 15s. 5 1/2d; but they do not say what they had in 1888. I find that in 1888 the Society was worth £91, 533 11s. 4 1/2d., with a membership of 10,727, and yet from the year 1888 to the end of the year 1894, the balance sheet shows the Society's capital £79,338 15s. 5 1/2d., a decrease in capital of £12, 194 15s. 11d. in six years. In addition to this loss of funds, they paid in levies not less than £8,000, making a total deficit of over £20,000, and at one of the branches that I know the balance shows an income of £312 and expenditure £616 or £304 above their income. 

Comments are needless; but I shall be glad to give "Not Sandy" a few more notes if he does not know how his Society stands, and I am surprised that any man who knows these facts could ask any young man to join a society that in a short time will be thing of the past. If we want to help one another, let us lay both the societies bare, and let them choose for themselves. One thing to be said, young men are not so easily led as they used to be -- they want to know a little about the societies they are about to join, and I think they can see which Society will stand.

MON.

Liverpool, November 1st, 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

GARSTON BRANCH

At a special meeting of the above branch, held on Sunday, November 15th, the following resolution was duly proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously:- 

"Being convinced that we have never paid sufficient  subscriptions to meet our liabilities n connection with the pension fund, and feeling sure from past experience that a large majority of the member would not be willing to increase their contributions sufficiently to put the pension fund on a sound financial basis; we therefore propose that we cease to pay the separate contribution of 1s. 6d. per quarter to pension fund, and that the pension fund be hereby abolished, and in lieu thereof, a new fund be formed as follows:-

That sixpence per quarter per member which at present is paid to the pension fund out of each member's ordinary contributions be utilised to form a fund which the General Committee will be empowered to a gratuity of 5s. per week to limited number of old member (not exceeding twenty) who are, in their opinion, most deserving of extra assistance." 

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- I am of the same opinion as Mr. Warwick, who doubts that our young enginemen will enter the above society, seeing how rapidly it is sliding down the hill, in spite of the cutting down process of the various benefits that have taken place to lighten the old ship. Speaking to comparatively old member the other day on the subject of Mr. Wray's proposition to saddle members from the age of 35 years, and upwards with the increase of contributions necessary to keep the Pension fund going, he said "if they do that I shall drop out of the Society." On the other hand, a young member told me that if the contributions were increased, to affect him, he should drop out. Such is, I believe, the general feeling. In there circumstances what must we do? Can we ask the A.S.R.S. to help us, because I see T. London tells in the "Herald" of August 3rd, 1895, that "the love of the A.S.R.S. for the old society is unbreakable, "which bit of information. I'm sure, must be very consolatory, if only to Mr. London. Mr. Wray's scheme will never popular because not "just" Tom Keneally, in "Herald," October 31st, 1896, has suggested the only practicable and workable plan -- viz., to levy 1d. per week on every member, old and and young alike, and if that doesn't suit every member it will suit the majority, which is everything if the society is to exist and prosper, which it will do if the 1d. per week to the fund is made general. Mr. Warwick in "Herald" of October 24th last asks Mr. Wray if he thinks young men will join the society to pay any increase to contributions which are already having, when they can join another society of their own grade -- or the A.S.R.S., for the matter of that -- and receive sick pay, superannuation, and trade protection for the same contribution? Like him I, too, say no they won't. A man, in fact, nowadays requires trade union benefits as well as sick benefits, and considering the heavy contributions paid, the old society is neither one thing nor the other, and, positively, the incapacitation benefit is the only inducement to join it.

STEAM BRAKES

London, N.W., November 20th, 1896

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- I have been told that there will shortly be a delegate meeting to discuss the position of this Society, and I suppose to make some further reductions in the benefits, etc. Now, I believe that it is pretty well known that at previous delegate meetings, the subject to amalgamating with the Associated has been spurned; and undoubtedly some of the delegates have been influenced to this by that august body the A.S.R.S.

Now, there is one thing that ought to be done at the forthcoming delegate meeting, and it is this:- Let it be decided once and for all whether the Old Society will amalgamate with the Associated, or will they ask the A.S.R.S. to kindly take them under their sheltering wings.

CHAW BACON

Newport, Mon., December 4th, 1896

---------

Sir, -- Various measures have been propounded by your numerous correspondents hat it is claimed will put matters right. In some instances, it approaches a scuffle between them, in which the A.S.R.S. and the Associated are trotted out and nominally involved, as concerned and associated with the prosperity or otherwise the "Old Society." That such is not the case nobody can doubt, if they take the trouble to think, for if the Society was in danger of extinction neither of the two mentioned would come to the rescue. I regret that many of the members do not seem to trouble themselves about the state of the Society, or the best way to bring about reform, otherwise they would not betray such crass and lamentable ignorance. Speaking the the other day to an old member of the Kentish Town Branch on the subject of Mr. Wray's (King's Cross) proposition, he said, "It is a fine scheme, and will certainly be adopted, for I can tell you I'm in the know old chap." "Why," continued this intelligent and well informed gentleman, "that scheme will not affect the likes of you and me to the extent of three farthings extra per week; it is the young members who join in future who will have to pay the extra." Now, sir, the fact is the members over the age of 35 will have to pay, and clearly too, if we pass that outrageous scheme. If that is passed many members will have to pay 13s. 4d. per quarter in contributions, through having to pay 4d. per week extra to the pension fund. Would that be fair, or would young men join the Society with such a prospect before them? The result of such an imposition would be that few young men would join, and many old members would drop out, to the ultimate utter collapse of the Society. The scheme of  a penny per week increase, per member throughout the Society, is the one most favoured by all with whom I have come in contact. The subject of federation is one also that is deserving of the most serious consideration of the members, as conducing to considerable reductions of the expenses of management.

STEAM BRAKE

London, N.W., December 6th, 1896.  

THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINEMEN

 AND FIREMEN FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Sir, -- The delegates will presenty go forth from their respective branches with instructions to record their vote in settlement of a proper balance of the financial condition of the Society. for long has this been a moot question, and at last the axe is within measurable distance of the tree, which we sincerely hope will be trimmed into something like shape. Let us not overlook the fact that the pension fund benefit is one of the "vital interest" to enginemen, giving a necessary and welcome permanent relief of 5s. per week for life, in the event of their "incapacity" as enginemen, and that this Society is the only one that gives relief to fallen enginemen in this way, outside Trade Unionism, in the Kingdom. It is, therefore, our interest and duty to maintain this fund with the well known axiom well before use:- "God helps those who help themselves." Seeing that the sick fund will bear strain, I say, with "Practical," take a halfpenny per member per week from it, increasing the contributions to a similar amount, and put the "penny" to the fund; because, if all members pay a penny per week to it, the fund will be put on a sound footing. If this is not agreeable to the members, then a penny a week per member might be made, which will make the Society firmer still, financially. I observe that the Garston branch have rescinded a former resolution, and the 5th clause of their suggestions in the "Herald" of the 19th instalment. is to the effect that "owing to the Railway Companies providing superannuation funds, there I no necessity for a pension fund at all. I should like to know, sir how they manage to conclude that the superannuation rules of the Companies meet the wants of enginemen"incapacitated" in any degree approaching the benefit given by our pension fund.

TOMMY DODD

Leeds, December 20th, 1896