FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

TEE SUBVENTION SCHEME. In order to try and gain some idea of what is intended to bo done in regard to tho Government's proposed subvention eohomo, ft deputation of friendly societies' representatives will wait upon tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher this evening. As it is understood that tho schomo in force in New South Wales is, generally, to bo followed, tho following extract from tho annual roport of the Registrar o{ Friendly Societies is quoted:—"A subvention schema was adopted by the N.S.AV. Government in 1908 on tho following lines:—(l) Half tho oost to tho society per year for sick pay, after twolvo months, to members under G5 years; (2) whole cost to tho society per year for sick pay to members G5 years and over (tho amount payablo under these sections not to exceed ss. per week); (3) medical attendance and medicines for members G5 years and over; (t) total contributions for funeral donations chargeable on account of members G5 years and over. In 1910 tlio amount paid by the State to the societies for tins subvention was ,£14,778 2s. 7d. The Registrar of New South Wales, in his report for that year, records phenomenal increase in the membership of societies— viz., 10,313, or equal to 12,3 per cent.— far ill excess of the results of any previous year." This lie attributes to tho improved financial position of tno societies, and partly to the operation or tlio subvention scheme. If the. membership thus gained is held, and lnpsos are reduced, then subvention appears to l>o largely fulfilling on voluntary lines tho object of State intervention in tins reform—vi?... tho cheapening of wtieiits in order to bring them witlnn reach of a poorer wage-earning class.