SICK BENEFIT FUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 12

SICK BENEFIT FUND.

SECTION OF RAILWAYMEN.

SHARP DEBATE IN HOUSE.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AFFECTED,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

■ There was a lively committee debate early this morning when the clause in the G6vernment Railways Amendment Bill, relating to the proposal to create a sicfc benefit fund for the Ixmefl*"' second division men, was under discussion in the House of Representatives. , The clause provides that there shall be a subsidy from the working railways account, on a f for £ basis, up to £8000

The Minister of Railways, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, explained that this would be for the benefit of all the second division men. It would be optional whether those in the service _at the -present time joined, but all joining in future would be obliged to subscribe to the fund.' ' , Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) said he would divide the committee on . the clause, since he considered it would operate unfairly . against friendly societies. He would like to see a conference called with a view to giving friendly societies the administration- of. the fund. -.■■ ■•• Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell) said he would divide the" committee on the question if Mr. Harris did not. Mr. E. Walter (Stratford) said he would vote with Mr. Dickson, as all the friendly societies in his district were opposed to the proposal, and had asked him to vote against it. i. . . _ ' Mr. Dickson said the friendly societies would support the proposal if it were made to apply generally. ' The Leader of the Opposition and Mr. P. Fraser contended that this fund was a matter between the employer anil the employees, and was a legitimate proposal. . :■ Number of Men Against It.

Mr. Dickson said the proposal ■ would be injurious to the friendly societies. The trouble was that men who contributed to this fund would hot join a friendly society, and when they retired from the railways they would be ivith.out the benefits of the friendly societies, at the very time when they most needed them. ' The railway associations had agreed to the proposal, but a number of the men were against it.

Mr. Coates explained that there was no comparison between the proposed sick benefit and the ordinary friendly societies' benefits, which were, much more comprehnsive. This fund would be simply industrial j insurance for all second division men, who were not paid when they were ill, as the first division men were. The Auckland City Council had had a similar scheme in operation for years. Under this scheme sick men would be paid £2 5/ a week, which would prevent the difficulties and 'the misery which now occurred. Mr. W. Lee Martin (Raglan) made a protest against what he termed the unfair competition of the State with the friendly societies, but said that although he was a' strong friendly society man he was not prepared to vote against the railwaymen getting this benefit. •:•■<> . "GooS-bye -to Friendly Societies." Mr. -Bitchener (Waitaki) ' stated that the friendly societies felt that this was the thin-end of the wedge. More and more State Departments would get these benefit schemes, and the result would be, in the large centres, "goodbye to the friendly societies." He regretted this blow to the friendly societies, though he was not prepared to deprive the railwaymen of the scheme.

Mr. H. E. Holland asked what the critics would have said to a proposal that the Railway Department should pay the men's wages while sick. Sooner or later this would become the rule in civilised society. ■

When the clause was put, Mr. Dickson and Mr.' Harris called for a division, but it ■was' retained by. 42 votes to 13.