The Chronicale PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. MONDAY, SEPT, 27, 1915.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 September 1915, Page 2

The Chronicale PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. MONDAY, SEPT, 27, 1915.

I'IUILNiDLY SOCIETIES AND TTIE WAlt. Tlio manner in which the various ton la and lodges of friondly .societies throiighoiiL New Zealand have faced their . o-j----possibilities to tilioir members on active .SLM'vieo is the Mib.jeet oi' commendatory reference in the annual report ol' lJio Registrar-General of .Friendly Societies submitted to the House ol : Representatives last week. The Nogistrar-Goii-oral remarks tliat ";i preliminary count a I Liu , end of April showed thai over two thousand members had joined '.he This niiinlier i.s fpiite incomplete, .and iV daily increasing. Tn almost all the societies these members are relieved from payment (,f contributions during their absence, the cost of which is borne either by their folloAV-inoinbers or out; of the societies, funds. Tin's charge, and *b> roiiisoqiieiit benefit payments an account of those members, will probably striin tiie resources of some lodges, but -f is cerfiiinly to the credit of the societies that they have .shown themselves ready and willing to undertake wluit tliey regard as a. national duty. T hope at a. later date to lie ahle to publish "k> unmoor and particulars relating to each society. Th<> legal position of those members in relation to their rights under tho societies' rules lias boon ''ho subject of inquiry. Section 101 of tlio Friendly Societies Act, 1909, is as follows:— "Notwithstanding anything in the Tides of any friendly society or branch, registered oi , unregistered, no person. by reason of his enrolment or service in the Defence Forces, shall lose or forfiot any interest be possesses in any snvh society or branch at the time of liis being so enrolled or serving, or bo finde for absence from or non-altend-aiico at any meeting of the society of 'branch, if bis absence or non-attend-ance is occasioned by the discharge o! bis military or naval duty as certified I>y bis commanding officer." The term "Defence Force" is in New ZonInnrl hold to include soldiers in the IoV poditionary Forces engaged on foreign service, and the Act does limit tlio privilege as is done by the English statute. Tn Great Britain the protection against .neprivntTon of these rights only covens members engaged as Territorials. Militia. etc.—i.e.. home uVfence—and not to those enlisted in the Hognlar Army and Navy. TTiese '"s trood reason for this, as the combatant. on active sonn'ce. is nursed, cared **o> , . and TtJiid W the Ptnte. so that tbo 'mmnnity from payment of contributions, ■with cover for the death benefit;, is nrobnblv a sufficient provision. Tf the ~S(rw Zealand societies' funds are to bear the full sick liabilities in terms <,{ their present rules in the case of those members, it can readily be seen thai the risk may turn out to be a most serious matter for some lodges. The New Zealand Act docs not permit lodges ♦<; adopt rules dealing \rith this problem as freely as the En'dish Societies. Indirection of the Tlon. the Minister T sent the following circular to fill friendly societies:-! iini directed by the TTon. the Minister in charge to 'nforni yon that the Government has made provision to assist the friendiv societies to meet the extra risk enlailed on their funds in respect of members of the "Expoditionarv Forces. While (be forces arc on active service the Government will contribute one-

half of the premium cost of reinsuring the funeral benefits of those •members who have joined the the contingents. in respect of societies which propose + o undertake the risk in their own funds, an amount equal to the above-mention-ed rat'© will be payable. Claims for subvention should be sent to this Department." All societies have riot yet advised me whether they intend to take advantage of this offer from the Government, but the majority have furnished some of the information required for the purpose of computing the subsidy. Tn order to meet any contingency that may require societies to utilize their funds in a wider manner for the benefit of members who might be adverely affected by the war. a short Act was passed on the 2nd November, 1914. enabling chief rules to bo regi.slered. Section 30 of the Friendly Societies' Act, I'OOD, which requires al! rules before registration to be subject to actuarial certification, was in the meantime repealed in order that the: postponement or waiver of contributions duo from .members might bo authorised for the war period. This amending Act is automatically repealed on the 31st .December, 191 f>. and the question of re-enacting it for a further terin will require consideration.