FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2933, 20 November 1916, Page 6

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

GOVERNMENT'S SOCIAL INSURANCE SCHEME DISCUSSED BY LODGE MEMBERS A meeting of members of friendly societies was held on Saturday night to discuss the proposals in the Finance Act of last year for the establishment ;of a scheme of annuities for members of friendly societies. The Act also provides that wives of members of "approved" friendly societies may receive maternity bonuses. Tho meaning of the term approved is that a society to entitlo its members to these benefits must definitely resolve to come under tho scheme. "The baby bonus part of the proposals is free, but the annuities aro on a contribution basis. To secure the baby bonus for, members a society must approve all the social insurance proposals of the Act. Isv en . if it does so, however, the members are not compelled to become contributors to the annuity scheme. This annuity scheme is to be worked by thesocietics and the National Provident Fund Office in conjunction. Members of- societies are to be allowed to become contributors at reduced rates-' but when a man "goes on the Fund " or begins to draw his annuity at 60 years of ago, his society must pay to tho National Provident 'Fund tho 'sum of £55 12s. 6d. About 150 members were present at tho meeting on Saturday night, but as the talk lasted from 7.30 p . m until 10.50 p.m., the attendance considerably dwindled before the meetinoended. Mr. T. Fathers presided. ° No division was taken on any question by tho members of societies present, but it appeared that tho bulk of them wero not in favour of adopting the Government's scheme. One of the difficulties is the financing of these payments of £55 12s. 6d., and there are other reasons also. Some members were even doubtful as to whother the annuities would be sound investments for tho contributors. Most of the discussion took place on the following motion by Bro. I. Salek :— (1) That this meeting of friendly societies, whilst acknowledging tho desire of the Government to benefit our members, respectfully declines to accept any subsidy that registers a wage limit, thus destroying that equality of membership and benefits irrespective of wealth, which is tho predominant ieaturo of our socioties. (2) That, as wo are not receiving tho full benefits of tho National Provident Fund at tho rates offered to friendly societies, this meeting fails tb appreciate anv benefit resulting to tho friendly societies. (3) That, as tho National Provident Fund is in competition with tho friendly societies, resorting to methods backed up by Government money, this meeting cannot sup* port any scheme which connects it with the National Provident Fund, thereby strengthening tho Provident Fund to tho detriment of friendly societies. Tho reference to "wage-limit" may be explained. No person in receipt of nioro than £200 per year mav become a contributor to tho National Provident Fund, cither directly, or through a friendly society. At about 10.30] when every phase of the question had been traversed many times, and whon every possible opinion had been repeated again and again, it appeared that tho motion might possibly bo carried. It was the opinion of tho mooting, however, that, although the motion might bo acceptable to the inembors present, it ought not to be adopted out of hand. The question should rather be discussed in the lodges separately, and later by a more fully representative body of delegates, who would have instructions on the question from their several societies. In view of all the circumstances, Bro. Salek _withdrew his motion, and the following resolution was carried:— "That this meeting strongly recommends the ' present governing council to take steps to establish a Dominion Friendly Societies' Council to protect tho interests of our societies."