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/288

Chapter XXI

 

A Boon to Members—Chafing Under the Truce—End of the War—The Improved National Programme—A General Election—London Traffic Agreement—The Tube Strike—National Programme Presented—Story of Famous Negotiations.

 

Certain important resolutions were adopted by the Executive in October of 1918, and some of there should be recorded here. One referred to the large number of locomotivemen transferring from the N.U.R. to the Society, and the desire to give them facilities to join the Orphan Fund. It was therefore resolved:—

"That all members of this Society, new members and transfers from other societies, be allowed to join the Orphan Fund on payment of sixpence entrance fee, and one penny per week contributions, and be entitled to immediate benefits on receipt of the entrance fee at General Office. That the sum of £1,000 from the Protection Fund be set aside for the purpose of paying 4s. 4d, into the Orphan Fund for each person joining the Orphan Fund, and thus enabling them to receive immediate benefit in accordance with rule."

This assistance was given at a very important time, for England, in common with the rest of Europe, was just enduring another of those frightful waves of "influenza," so-called for want of a better definition. This rapid fever caused pneumonia to supervene in large numbers of cases, and all too frequently death came within few days. It was highly infectious and the thousands of victims

232