1st April 1985

Today is the anniversary of the introduction of Beech Marks, and it is felt
that a review of their use and progress is appropriate.
As students of Economic History will be aware, the passing of the Truck
Laws in the 19th Century specifically abolished the payment of wages in
kind. Equally, students of Dan Air industrial relations will also be aware
that negotiations take place in a 19th Century atmosphere, so therefore
Beech Marks are here to stay and we have to live with them.
Your committee has been trying to widen the scope of their use but we
have to report definite failures in some areas, whilst are still being
investigated. Whilst there is no definate proof that Beech Marks played an important
part in the elections a year or so ago, it is known that the Christian
Democratic Party were in favour of a limited trial of their use in Berlin.
They subsequently lost the election and Chancellor Kohl, with memories of
the raging inflation in the Weimar Republic of 1923 created by the
unrestricted printing of paper money, immediately cancelled any authority to
use them outside the Penta Hotel.
The East Germans are equally adamant about not using them in East Berlin
and have instituted body searches of Dan Air personnel suspected of
attempting to smuggle them across the border. In order to avoid this
indignity, personnel making regular visits are recommended to have a spare
passport indicating a different occupation as heavy fines, not payable in
Beech Marks, are being imposed on the guilty.
Two other negative areas we have to report, which apply mainly to
Captains, are that in spite of strong representation the Berlin based
stewardesses will not accept them in lieu of allowances even at the
advantageous rate of 2 to the mark. The fact some have been using them in
the hotel for breakfast is not official but purely a private arrangement.
Finally Captain B---h will only allow 40 Beech Marks to be carried at the
yearly audit of Captain's flight funds. A fairly depressing picture but all
is not lost, further investigations are in hand
The ladies of the Ku/Daam are a possible outlet and with this in mind
the B---k A-d-r has agreed to try his luck the next time he is out there and
will report back at a later stage. There are two obvious drawbacks to this
exercise the first being that he is not really a representative body and
would probably be charged double and secondly the management of the Penta
are slightly worried about the additional number of people coming into
breakfast after a long night on the town. Negotiations are in hand.
Blue movies are another possibility and after a lot of persuading J--P
has agreed to visit all the cinemas once again to find out if they will
accept Beech Marks. In view of the number of cinemas available, we look upon
this as a long term project and he has agreed to report back not later than
1st April 1986.
Closer to home we have asked T--y P-c--k to open negotations with the
Balkan Grill. We are not too hopeful on this score if his ability to speak
Jugoslav is on a par with his command of the English Language.
Almost all the outlets in the hotel have been explored with exception of
one. That habitue of the sauna K-n L--e has agreed to explore the
possibility of a massage on Beech Marks. Initial reaction was not good; one
sight of his body and they wanted to charge him by the kilo! In the
interests of the experiment he has agreed to go on yet another diet and
report back. We feel that this might be another long term project, even
possibly a lost cause. We do need ideas. What about the forms being perforated so that change can be given? Can they be used in the staff canteen in Horley? What about
paying for duty frees. They cannot be used for German beer as this would
break the agreement we have with the German Government not to use them
outside the Penta hotel. The possibilities are endless; do send in your
suggestions. Naturally, all the above trials will be expensive. B.A.L.P.A, with its
well known free hand with our subscriptions, will not give us any
assistance, so we will have to raise yet another fighting fund with another
Independant levy, as usual.
To end this report, in view of the lack of response to the Dinner dance
at the Gatwick Hilton, it is proposed that the next function will be held at
the Penta Hotel exactly a year from today. The cost, you've guessed it , 80
Beech Marks or £20 per person.

John, you might like to put this on view; many will have seen it before but
it is a little reminder.

Ken Line