FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 31, 31 October 1918, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

GOVERNMENT MAY ASSIST. A brief discussion arose in the House of Representatives yesterday with reference to the friendly societies and the difficulties created for them by the war. Messrs. Veitch (Waiigauui), lalbot Uβmnka), and Buddo (Kaiapqi) urged that (ho Government ought to give some additional assistance to the societies, which were embarrassed by the demands made upon them by discharged soldier-mei— here nixl by the suspension of the contributions of soldiers on scrv.ee. The Hon. J. A: Hanaii. w reply, Mid that there were many difficulties connected with tho matter, and it had been necessary for tho Friendly Societies Department to collect much information beforo coming to a decision. The information had now boen obtained, and ho Department was in a position to make a recommendation to 'the Minister. He hopel later to submit ft proposal to Cabinet Ho agreed that the societies, were placed i a difficult position by their obligations o di charged soldier-members, who were still in ill-health. These imii were entitled to draw eick pay, and they constituted a severe strain on the funds of the societies. He felt that the societies ought to be assisted, and ho hoped to innkc proposals that would enable Cab* inot to deal with the matter.