Adopted.

"That the minutes of yesterday's proceedings, as read, bo confirmed."—Carried unanimously.

Withdrawn.

"That the E.C. be authorised to collect from the Branches the sum of £20,000 to be invested in the bonds of Municipal Corporations paying not less than 4 per cent per annum, and secured upon the local rates."

Withdrawn.

"That £30,000 be the amount to be invested with Municipal Corporations,"

"The society be divided into 16 districts. We propose to take a sum equal to the minimum amount of capital which the society can possess (rule 9, clause 3), equal at present to £16,000, which should be equally divided between the districts, each having £1,000. This would provide against the possibility of having to realise the securities of this fund. A ballot should be held to determine the branch to which the appropriation should fall, and a similar proceeding among the members of such branch to decide upon the particular individual. It might here be useful to hint that only these members who are under 6 weeks in arrears should participate in such ballot, as an inducement to keep their contributions paid up. The appropriation shall be the sum of £300, which would give three chances at once to each district, the money to be lent to members for 12 years at an interest of 5 per cent. The management should be carried out by committees elected from the district, if possible; but where the branches are widely separated, the branch to which the appropriation is allotted shall find its own

Withdrawn.

committee, subject to the rules laid down by a central committee, which shall be chosen from the E.C., for the purpose of watching over the concern in the interest of the society. The expenses of management would not be large if the branches were to send committee-men by rotation, on the same principle as many building societies manage; such service to be gratuitous. Secretary and trustees to be elected annually, and to have a small salary, which might be met by an additional charge of £1 per annum on the member borrowing. The fines for non-payment shall also go to the management fund. The legal expenses (if preferred) should be paid for the member out of the funds—a twelfth of which, with principal and interest added, to be repaid every year. The title deeds or other securities to be lodged with the E.C., and by them to be deposited for security in a bank chosen for the purpose. All property offered by members as security should be examined by a survey committee, to ensure the society against loss; the expense of such survey to be borne by the borrowing member. £16,000 produces £800 per annum at 5 per cent.

Withdrawn.

"That £10,000 be the amount invested."

"That this Council, although most anxious that we should have the best

Adopted.

possible return for our money, consistent with safety, are of opinion that the time has not yet arrived to adopt any of the proposed suggestions."

"That we are of opinion that Rule 46, clause 1, deals with the case stated

Adopted.

by the Camberwell Branch, and we consider any alteration of rule uncalled for."—Carried unanimously.

"That the proposal of the Middlesbrough and Stockton Branches, if

Adopted.

adopted, would entail an excessive cost without producing results which would justify such an expenditure."—Carried unanimously.

Adopted.

"That Rule 43 remain unaltered."

Rejected.

"That the words 'twelve months' in Rule 43 be altered to 'three years.'"

Rejected.

"That the equalisation take place every two years."

Rejected.

"That no sum less than £5 be remitted as equalisation."

Adopted.

"That the decision of the E.C. in the San Francisco tool case be confirmed."

"That we are of opinion that the decision of the E.C. was not in

Rejected.

accordance with the spirit and intentions of our rules, and consider that ' the deceased's relatives are justly entitled to the tool benefit, providing the member was not disqualified in accordance with the provisions of our rules."

"That for the future guidance of the E.C. we decide that in the event of any member dying when travelling, by land or water, having loft an inventory of the tools taken with him on the journey with the B.S., or forwarded to the B.S. by post previous to commencing the journey, his branch shall be

Adopted.

empowered, in the event of it being proved to their satisfaction that the said tools are lost by fire, water, or theft, to pay to the relatives or nominee of the said member the amount which may be awarded by the branch committee as the value of the tools thus registered and lost."—Carried unanimously.

Adopted.

"That the present rates of contributions remain unaltered-"—Carried unanimously.

Rejected.

"That the sick benefit be increased to 14s. per week for 26 weeks, and after the expiration of that time to 7s. per week as long as illness continues."

Rejected.

"That the following form be adopted: "—

Adjourned.

"That it be left to the discretion of the E.C. to extend the size of the Monthly Report when they think it necessary to do so."

"That Rule 31, clause 3, be amended as follows:—'He shall issue a Monthly Report, which shall be charged one penny each to members; it shall be the medium of communication between the E.C. and the Branches,

Adjourned.

and contain the result of voting by the members on any question; the state of trade in each locality; and all Branch resolutions which are forwarded for publication, with the decisions of the E.C. thereon, excepting such resolutions as votes of thanks to retiring officers, members leaving the country, &c.'"