Mexborough & Swinton Times — Saturday, 12 June 1943
Colliery Death Fund
The annual meeting of the Denaby Colliery Workmen’s Death Fund took place on Sunday in the colliery pay office.
Mr. W. H. Barnett presided.
The financial statement was presented by the secretary, Mr. A. Platt, who said in the general fund, in which there was a balance in hand from the previous year of £106 6s. 6d., the total income through stoppages amounted to £1,355 3s. 9d. Payments to dependents amounted to £1,283 10s. 9d., leaving a balance in hand of £71 13s.
He stated that the following claims had been met: Denaby underground 22, Denaby surface 18, and two joint benefits had been paid out to ex gratia dependents.
During the year 20 doctors’ notes had been handed in and he stressed the great importance of this necessary qualification to those off ill for a period.
Since the payment of wives of subscribers had become a rule, there had been 52 claims met.
A total of 29 stoppages had been made during the year, an average of 3¼d. per week from the subscribers.
Five claims had been turned down on account of rules, and since 1933 there had been 30 claims turned down through enquiry, etc., which meant a saving to the subscribers of £1,630.
They would like to improve the keeping of finances, and though it might seem very hard on many occasions, this could only be carried out as laid down.
Mr. Platt then presented the O.H.M.S. contingency fund statement for the year as follows: Balance in hand £178 1s., to which one stoppage only had been added, making a total of £216 12s. 6d.
Unfortunately they had lost four comrades, Able Seaman J. Sudworth, Sergt. K. Moody, Corporal Charlesworth and Gunner Albert Mills, whose dependants had been paid the sum of £144, leaving in the fund a balance of £72 12s. 6d.
Mr. C. Reed proposed, Mr. T. Shepherd seconded that the report be accepted as a very satisfactory one and this was carried unanimously.
The proposal of Mr. P. H. Shepherd in 1942 for the payment to subscribers who lost their wives was seconded by Mr. G. Guest, and it was decided that the secretary should be given authority to pay the whole of the £10 as one payment, and not as £6 and £4 as the general case (this to apply to these special cases only).
Many cases of pensioners taking up war work were discussed and these were dealt with by the meeting.
The chairman, Mr. Barnett, said how pleased he was with the year’s work and the smooth manner in which the fund was run, and he had pleasure in adding his testimony to the many paid to the secretary. He hoped the year would be as satisfactory from the contingency fund point of view and thanked all who administered the funds.
The election of officials resulted:
Treasurer, Mr. B. H. Pickering; president, Mr. W. H. Barnett; secretary, Mr. A. Platt; underground, Mr. J. Stead; Mr. E. Whitehouse; Mr. H. Willoughby, surface, Mr. T. Watson.
Mr. T. Shepherd proposed and Mr. C. Reed seconded that the services of the secretary be placed on record for the manner in which he had carried out his duties during the last ten years.