PAYMENTS BY LODGE MEMBERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 152, 23 March 1939, Page 8

PAYMENTS BY LODGE MEMBERS

Government To Be Asked For Refund ODDFELLOWS’ DECISION By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 22. In view of the medical and hospital provisions of the Social Security Act not .becoming immediately operative but the 1/- in the £ having to be paid as from April 1, it was decided at the biennial conference of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows, to ask the Government through the Dominion Council of Friendly Societies to refund to lodge members who till the Act operates are paying medical and hospital funds to their lodges the amount they now contribute to their lodges for doctor, medical and hospital benefits. Friendly society members represent one-fifth of the population of the Dominion. The proposal was brought forward by the Wellington district that a scale should be prepared for providing £2 a week for males and £1 a week for females for the first week of any sickness or any part of that week. The plan aims at providing something additional for a member while he is awaiting a benefit under the Social Security Act, which does not provide for the first week of sickness, and at making the members’ position the same as it will be in the second and subsequent weeks, this being in the case of a male £1 from his lodge and £1 from the social security fund from the second week. Thirteen per cent, of the total sickness, it was stated, was experienced in the first week and it would appear that an additional quarterly contribution of 1/- at the age of 16 to 3/- at the age of 45 was necessary. The actuary advised that a scheme of this nature should be viewed with great caution, but it was considered by the conference that the directors of the society should have a table prepared. This decision was reached because of the excessive sickness experienced in the lodges. It was decided that a certificate should be furnished from a medical officer fortnightly instead of monthly as at present. This is to be made mandatory on all lodges, special provision being already in existence for exempting members in special, known circumstances.

The conference decided again to request the Government to restore the payment made before the depression to friendly societies for making the annual returns required under the Friendly Societies Act. It was decided to investigate the position relative to the occupation of aviators and the contingent risk entailed and the directors were empowered to make.provision in the scale of contributions to meet the extra risk if it were considered necessary.