FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THE STATE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3040, 29 March 1917, Page 6

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THE STATE

MATERNITY AND OTHER ALLOWx ANCES. ' By Telegraph—Press Associ.iUiji. Auckland, March 28. 'A deputation from the Friendly Societies' Council asked the Hon. J. A. Hanan thai the maternity allowance be iiicreasod from £4 to £6, as in the National Provident Fund; also that a further conference be held between the societies and the Government in regard ■to the management of the former's affairs. Tho Minister said that raising tha bonus would involve a considerable sum. Hβ would go into,the matter to form an idea of the amount required. The deputation also (suggested tkit after the war the Government should take lip the matter of providing medical attention for the whole community. The Government, it was urged, should train up medical men from the public schools, and eventually pay them for their services. The Minister said he favoured the encouragement of boys with tho right ability to. enter the profession, and a great deal had been done in .that direction already. Ho would convey ; thc representations to the Minister of Public Health. Mr. Hanan also promised to look into the matter of extending the concessions at Kotorua and Hanmer Sanatorium to the wives of friendly society members; of the reinsurance of soldiers who returned to the Dominion and died here; and not on active service; and of granting facilities to societies to operate on Post Office Savings Bank accounts by cheques.