Union's expenditure had gone on administration and salaries and that it appeared that little was going as benefits to members.

This has been a recurring theme when the BIU's accounts are filed, although it must be said that the union's financial stability has improved.

Today, we have published a story on the latest accounts filed by the Island's other trade unions.

Some people may be surprised that the pattern of the BIU accounts -- most expenses go on salaries and administration and the unions' grassroots members see little in the form of benefits -- is evident in most other unions as well.

More than half the Bermuda Public Service Association's income in 1997 was spent on salaries and administration; the 1998 figures are not yet available.

Nor are the Hotel Employers of Bermuda's 1998 accounts ready -- but in 1997, almost 70 percent of expenses went on salaries while almost 20 percent went on legal expenses, presumably in actions during industrial disputes.

About half of the Employers Council's 1998 expenses went on salaries, while a total of 87 percent was spent on management expenses.

The Electricity Supplies Trade Union -- "the Belco union'' -- seems to have the best handle on expenses, with donations and scholarships figuring high on its spending list.

All unions -- both for employers and employees -- need to build up reserves for the future and good management does not come cheap. It can be argued that employers' unions are not in the business of giving benefits to their members and are there to represent and advise their membership on labour issues.

Employees' unions have traditionally played a greater role in returning benefits to their members.

But all the unions should remember that they are there to represent and help their members, not to build bureaucracies.

At a time when some workers and employers are struggling to make ends meet and to make their companies more viable, all the unions should be finding ways to cut expenses too.

HUMAN DECENCY EDT Human decency Praise is due to the Police Service for reversing its decision not to investigate an accident which left a three-year-old child seriously injured.

The Police originally told Derik Dill's mother Angela that they could not investigate the accident because it did not occur on a highway and was not in a public place -- the Government-owned Shelly Bay Park.

But the Police yesterday changed their position and said they now believed the accident did occur on a highway and would be investigated.

While a good deal of pain and suffering could have been avoided if the Police had come to this decision sooner, this is a case of better late than never.

And Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay deserves special praise for personally apologising to the family.

It is too early to say who is responsible for for this case, but at least the Police are now taking it up.

But sadly, the driver of the taxi which was in collision with little Derik has shown no remorse and a marked lack of compassion. He would be wise to take a leaf out of the Police's book and exhibit some human decency.