Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/142

 from three stations to be £5 5s., leaving a balance in hand over expenditure of 5s. 6d.

Speaking of his experience on the 1893 Executive, Mr. Parfitt recalled the Probert case, which extended the benefit of incapacitation grant to eyesight failure on account of an accident to the eye. He always regarded it as an epoch-making year in the Society's history, for reasons which have been explained in previous chapters. The eyesight question was very prominent, and it was recommended that locomotive men should be allowed the aid and protection of spectacles, especially as they were used by other grades, and even by directors, and in America enginemen were allowed to use them. The revised rules of the Benevolent Fund also came into operation in 1893, making a call of 4d. on full members and 2d. on half members, an amount not exceeding £50 to be paid to any unjustly discharged members, or £25 to half members.

The 1895 Triennial Conference saw a keen discussion on the proposal to appoint organisers, and it was only lost by a vote of 25 to 24. The rules of the Superannuation Fund were altered at the same meeting, arising out of the following proposal from the Executive:—

"'That any full benefit member-60 years shall be entitled as follows:—

'If a member 20 consecutive years, 5s. per week: 25 years, 5s. 6d. per week; 30 years, 6s. per week; 35 years, 6s. 6d. per week; 40 years, 7s. per week; provided he ceases to follow his usual employment.'"

This involved a slight reduction in certain cases, and it was vigorously opposed and rejected, the old provision of 5s. after ten years membership. 6s. after 15 years, and 7s. 6d. after 20 years, being supported by the majority. The Executive's proposal with regard to the Accident Incapacitation Fund, to give benefits according to years of membership, as in the case of superannuation on old age retirement, was carried. It was this Conference also which decided to present to Mr. C. H. Perry, of Newport, the