NATIONAL PROVIDENT SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2412, 18 March 1915, Page 7

NATIONAL PROVIDENT SCHEME

UNFAIR. COMPETITION BY THE .' STATE ALLEGED. • (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, March 17. The competition which exists between the' State and friendly societies in their respective benefit schemes was referred to by the Mayor of Auckland at, tho opening of the annual session of. the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. "Whilo there may ho groat reasons," he said, "for the- State interposing with the National • Provident scheme, there is not good reason for any unfair competition on tho part of tho Stato. lam told that in theCivil' Service the "Government' scheme, is'worked up by energetic canvassers and State money is used to spread the National Provident scheme. I do. not think that is quite fair. All benefit societies, whether State or not, should' be on the same footing, and men should be allowed to join any organisation, they please without being harassed . by clever canvassers into joining tho ono particular society that suits the Government. [On inquiry at the National Provident Fund Department it was stated that lecturers were visiting various workshops and factories, including the Government workshops, but no pressure whatever is exercised on Government employees. The instructions to the lecturers are that where they learn that a man is already a member of a friendly society they are not. to interfere with his membership in any way whatever.]