FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 February 1908, Page 9

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

THE PREMIER FORECASTS A BILL. CONTRIBUTION'S AND AUDIT. (BY TELECKAI'K— CHESS association) Auckland, February 24. In tho course of an address at tho Oddfellows' picnic at tlio island of Motutapu, Sir Joseph Ward said that during next session ho hoped to ho ablo to pass tho now Friendly .Societies Bill, when somo important reforms would come up for consideration. Ono of the most vital .questions affecting friendly societies to-day was that of adequate contributions, anil in that connection it was interesting to note that this important principle was affirmed by the l'Yieiidly Societies' .Conference in 1906. The settlement of this question had been found to bo very difficult' jn other States, but tho resolution coming from tho friendly societies themselves went a long way in' tho'direction of a satisfactory. solution, wliieh, ho thought, could best bo reached by"gradual steps. The audit of friendly societies' accounts was also a very important l factor,'aiid in.tho opinion of many peoplo some considerable reform was called for. Without subscribing to tho extremo views put forward from timo to time, it was, lio thought, evident that tho present method of elected auditor's had outlivod its time. A scheme was required which would ensure a competent audit.at least onco a, year, and which would bo adaptablo to small country lodges./He hoped'to bo ablo ; to submit proposals in tho new Bill. It had b.een found that the treatment and admittance of-members of friendly to hospitals was not on an equitable or satisfactory footing, and an • effort- would bo mado to establish, a-system by,,whiqh all societies, would bo able to obtain admittance of tlioir members to hospitals at "a "uniform rate." Statistics for this purposo wero now being collected from societies.-.,";' ; It had beeji suggested.that' tlioenrly.:history of thq formation and'progress of friendly societies in New Zealand should :bo, collccted antl compiled ; .thoreforo.Jio.h'ad'-given'.tho necessary authority to - havo *'a stenographer specially appointed: to visjit old Members' to securo tlio interesting recollections and' records. of old lodges and .members, which ;are inseparable 'from tlio [early colonisation: days,, aiid which nmstTorm.a very valuable adjunct to tho .history, of tho Dominion. . . • . •