Friendly Societies.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 51, 8 October 1887, Page 2

Friendly Societies.

[To TUE Edxicb.;

Sib, —I was glad to see you, in your last issue, devote some space to the benefits to be derived from Friendlv Societies, It is a question to which too much importance cannot be attached, and one that once brought before the public must force its own weight upon the minds of everyone. As a member of the Druids for many years I can fully bear out all your arguments, and can safely assert that had I not been one, I would have been in a far worse position than 1 am now. In doctor’s fees I have alone saved pounds and pounds. With you I cannot conceive how it is that so few join a Lodge. For the Druids the fees to be paid are less than what you stated. There can be no possible consideration given to the amount of the subscriptions to be paid. There are hundreds in Gisborne who would think nothing of spending fifty times as much on drink, but who never consider for a moment what they would gain by paying weekly a small contribution to a Friendly Society. This is a thing which only forces itself upon them when they are sick, then they acknowledge that they have been fools to themselves and unjust to those depending on them. With returning health they again let the opportunity slip, and so it is that the country suffers, Your article, will, lam sure, be productive of an immense amount of good, and as a member of a Lodgp who wishes to see success attend their efforts, I think the subject was well chosen.—l am, &c., Friendly Society.