ANNUITIES SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1758, 25 May 1906, Page 2

ANNUITIES SCHEME.

DISCUSSED BY THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last nigbi

Tho Confeeace of Friendly S o.tes gave consideration this afternoon to a letter received from the Premier on the subject of national annuities.

Bro. Sa' k (Wanganui) taid be would like to know why friendly scci tiis Bhould be offered a refund and turned into oharitable institutions. They Were independent in every way, and if they aeoepted anything at all they would be amenable to Government. Other societies encouraged thrift. lusuraooe companies did so by insuring for a given rm mat at a certain agp, and he would like to know whether Government would dare to mike a similar offer to suoh institu Dm. The soo'eTes consisted of men who bad bound th mselvos together for mutual help. They bod never asked Government for monela y as-istanoe, and he failed to see why th y ebou'd bo offered a sliding soale of refunds. The societies wanted no assistance from the Government or any other body in the colony. Bro. Ju 1 (Hawke's Biy) felt that the confeieneo should do something more than pass a resolution rejecting tbo proposals on the ground that they would not accept any help from Government. Bro. Everett (Nblsod) objeoted to cavalierly treat the proposals. The application of this scheme would enable them to take in the inßrm, whom under the present circumstances the societies had to reject. Bro. Harvoy (Otago) was of opinioa that tho Premier's idea was to enoourage thrift. Bro. Moffatt hoped the scheme would roctiye ovory consideration. A'tor further disoussion Bro. Loasby moved an amendment, which was oarried, expressing tbo view that before a decided opinion could bo expressed on tho echeme a Bill authorising refunds to societies bould be before the societies.