A NEW SCHEME LAUNCHED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1065, 2 March 1911, Page 7

A NEW SCHEME LAUNCHED.

, ' $ STATE' PROVIDENT FUND; THE FIRST SIGNATURE. Yosterday a -new State venture wa3 launched. By the Act of last session tho National Provident Fund came into operation yesterday iiuder the superintendence of Mr. R. G. Hayes, Registrar of Friendly Societies. To celebrate the occasion, an informal ceremony was hold in tho office set apart for .the transaction of tho'busi•ness of the fund in the Government Build.ings. Those present the Board of Control-were: Messrs. J. AV. Povnton, Secretary toithe Treasury; G. F. C. Campbell, Commissioner of Taxes; R. E. Hayes, and Dr. Hay, Inspector of Prisons. The Prirno Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), also attended. ' After a few words by Mr. Hayes, Sir Joseph.AVsird wetit through the ceremony, of enrolling Mr. Gladstone AVard, one of his sons, a member of the fund. His name, therefore, figures first on tho list of contributors. A photograph was duly taken of the Prime Minister receiving the'receipt-book from Mr. .Haves. . The' : Prime Minister also addressed a •fow'words to the gathering. Ho said that" it must lie a sourco of. satisfaction, to the people of the Dominion to know that New Zealand was. the first country ,in the world which had put into operation a system with such advantages as were contained in the Act of last session. He recognised what others :had done towards tho ; scheme. ; The late "Mr. Seddon had'himself advocated a scheme on 1 similar lines, "but the present svstem was on n larger and more' compreiiensive basis 'than any that. had. beca suggested. Ho believed that the country could well afford its proposed contribution .to the fund. He hoped tlie public, in their turn, would take the matter ■ up. He also alluded to the benefit which the fund would prove in cases of maternity, and of old age and sickness. 'Regarding his son's membership, tho ; .Prime Minister said that he was quite eligible, his inco'ine being, under a year, and he had enrolled him in the hope of inculcating into the youth of the Dominion the. importance of'making; provision for tho future. No yoinig 'person should miss -the chance of taking advantage of such provision for old age as the fund offered. He 'believed that it would he. a source of -great help to the masses of tlio people, and. lie wished the fund all success.. (Applause.).