NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2394, 25 February 1915, Page 6

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

. AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. (By Telegraph.—Pr«sa Association.) . Auckland, February 24. . "For the first time in eleven years," declared Bro. A. J. Pople, Provincial Deputy-Grand Master of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows in the Auckland Province, at the annual conference, "the aggregate membership of lodges in Auckland district shows a decrease. The cause may be attributed in some degree to the unsettled state of labour throughout the Dominion, that .however is not wholly the reason why the membership which has' been bteadiiy increasing for the past 24 years declined last year by 70 members, the total membership now Btanding at 3185. "The National Provident Fund operating in the friendly society field .is undoubtedly exercising an injurious effect upon the membership of thoee societies," he continued, "while the Government scheme does not fill'the place of a well-constituted friendly society, it is pushed by able Government canvassers. The Provident Fund is subsidised by the State, and the whole of the management expenses are paid by the members of friendly societies and other taxpayers of the Dominion, a state of affairs which should no longer be tolerated by the friendly societies; who have, at their own expense, since the foundation of the Dominion, materially assisted in the alleviation of distress, the promotion of thrift and the upfifting of tho working classes." In the course of his address, the Mayor, Bro. C. J. Parr, said he regretted the present competition, of the National Provident Fund, and he had had considerable doubt as to tho wisdom of starting the fund. One would have thought that the well-eguipped and well-financed frieudly societies of tho Dominion would have been sufficient. The State competition might do grave and perhaps lasting injury to tile order which was doing incalculably benefit, to the whole community. (Hear, hear.) He saw no reason why the competition which could not now be obviated should not bo on a l'airer . basis-to the Order. (Hear, hear.) He would feel it his duty to volmi hie viuwo when tbs owanioM -WS9 » Parliament. Oiear> b»r J.