NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 168, 5 April 1918, Page 3

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

OPPOSITION OF A FRIENDLY SOCIETY THE SCHEME CRITICISED An interesting discussion which consisted largely of condemnation of tho Nutionai I'rovidont li'und occunori. at tho Oddfellows' Confurence yostorday, on a motion by P.Gi.AL Bro. Jolm M'Leod, Auckland, that the society should become an approved sooiot-y for the purpose of receiving benefits promised by tho Government, namely, maternity benefits.

Bro. ii'Lood said that it was iho late lU. Hon. It. J. Sccklon who had wished to subsidise friendly societies, and he now thought that ™e societies wero wrong in not accepting the offer. Tiie oft'sr hnd not been accepted, and a later Government had launched the National Provident Fund, which ivns in direct opposition to the societies and was subsidised largely by tho Statemuch more largely than had been intended. It seemed that tho operalions of the-'fund had to bo very carefully watchtd by the societies. Agents of tho fund were going through the workshops, etc., enrolling the young men the lodges should bo getting. He believed that tho friendly societies were better than the fund. He moved in the direction above indicated, not because he was satisfied with what the State was doing, but for the purposo of receiving a benefit that was iffered. He did not think tho society should be satisfied with anything less than the fund was getting. The fund did not work in the best interests of the man who - was most deserving, but the friendly societies looked after the man at the Iwttom of tho ladder. Tito Grand Master, Bro. I. Salek, said that he had opposed the establishment of the fund. The National Provident Fund was taking from the societies tho best of the young men, and lie for one objected, after paying toward his friendly society, to having to pay a share by the State subsidy for yoaag, healthy, financially-sound members of the National Provident Fund. "The Provident Fund canvasser has no interest except that of parninjj his ss. per enrolment and his salary," remarked Bro. M'Leod. The motion was carried. ' It was resolved aka:— "That the society use its best endeavours obtain the maternity allowance of the State as from January 1, 1917."