The Akaroa Mail FRIDAY, MARCH 22.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 175, 22 March 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail FRIDAY, MARCH 22.

Among the institutions which take root in all the ramifications of the British Empire, none are more creditable to the national character than what are known as Friendly Societies. Having for their object the alleviation of those ills which flesh is heir to, viz., sickness and bereavement, and for effect, besides accomplishing these objects, the fostering of provident habits among those to whom improvidence is a great temptation, and the encouragement of united and friendly feelings, in place of jealousies and heartburning, they must commend themselves to the good wishes of the philanthropist, the statesman, and the Christian.

The last session of Parliament, barren as it was in aught else, save struggles for place and power, was productive of an Act, bearing upon this subject, which now lies before us, entitled " An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Friendly and other Societies." We propose to lay before such of our readers asN arei nterested in these societies, a brief resume of this Act, and such information as may be useful how far the position of any such society is effected by the latest legislation on the subject.

This Act commences by repealing all previous enactments bearing on the. same subject, viz., " The Friendly Societies' Act, 1867," and the " Friendly Societies' Amendment Act, 1875." Now, under the Act of 1867, the affairs of Friendly Societies had drifted into the greatest confusion, in this wise : Till within the last few years the Colonial Secretary, who acted as Registrar of Friendly Societies, has been in the habit of " registering* " any sociey that applied for registration, simply on deposit of rules, accompanied by a certificate from a revising barrister that there was nothing in them contrary to law. About four years ago, however, it was discovered that a most importaut clause in the Act had been overlooked, and this was a proviso, that, besides the certificate of a revising barrister, it was necessary that the rates of contribution should be certified to by an actuary appointed by the Government, as sufficient to provide for J the benefits promised. How this provision had been overlooked for so long is one of those departmental mysteries which " no fellah can make out," but so it was. After this discovery, the rules were referred to an actuary, Mr C. G. Knight, of the Government Insurance Department. He, in almost every case, found the contributions in his opinion insufficient, and consequently registration was refused. The results were certainly anomalous, for it was difficult for societies to understand why they should be refused registration, while others, whose rates were perhaps even lower than their own, had been registered. Nay, more, in some cases "district rules" had been registered, and yet j branches working under them were rejected. The result was, that at the end of 1876, of 249 societies known to tbe Government to exist in New Zealand, to which return forms were sent, only 100 were registered. Now we observe that the new Act abandons this provision as to sufficiency of rates, and offers registration to all societies upon compliance with certain very simple conditions (with one exception, which we shall notice hereafter). Tbe Legislature in effect says to these societies :—" We are aware that your objects are good, and provided we are satisfied that your rules are not contrary to law, and your organization is not to be made use of for any illegal purpose, we are willing to give you a legal status. With the question of your solvency or otherwise, we have nothing to do. You must judge of that for yourselves." On the whole, we are disposed to think that this is the wiser course, though there is a great deal to be said on the other side. The arguments pro and con are too longto reproduce hare, but in brief it may be said that working men should not be treated like children, even though it may be with the intention of protecting them against their own want of business knowledge. We remarked that there was one exception to registration without the certificate of an actuary. It is contained in clause 10, section 5, which runs as follows :—•' No society assuriug to any member a certain annuity shall be entitled to registry, unless the tables of contributions for such assurance, certified by the actuary attached to the office of the Registrar, or by some actuary approved by the Governor, who has exercised the profession of actuary for at least five years, he sent to the Registrar with the application for registry." This provision, we think, is very necessary. It would be very hard that a man should be making payments during all his youth and prime to secure a provision against want in his old age,

on a scale which a professional man could tell from the first would be insufficient to enable, the society to fulfil its contract.

Want of space prevents our going at present more fully into this highly important subject. On a future occasion we propose to return to it, and point out the necessity for and effects of registration, as well as glance at a few of the rocks and quicksands which it would be well for these excellent institutions to avoid. In the meantime, we would reiterate to all Friendly Societies the advice tendered by the late Sir Robert Peel to electors, viz.:—" Register 1 Register ! Register I "