The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 96, 10 April 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1876.

The number of those in the colony who belong to one or another of the " Friendly Societies " in existence is so large tbat the financial position of those Societies, and their ability or otherwise to meet the claims that might at any time be made upon their funds in the event ot any great increase in the amount of sickness or in the deathrate are questions of real public importance. In the absence of any statistics it is impossible to set down in figures the exact amount of benefits they confer, but it is, we have reason to believe, in the item of sick pay alone very large, so large, indeed, that the question has been more than once raised whether the amount of relief granted is not in excess of what the Societies can afford. As an instance of this we may quote what fell from the Minister of Justice when a motion for taking the necessary preliminary steps to setting the Priendly Societies on a better footing was before the House in its last session. Mr Bowen said: — " Not very long ago he was very much struck by the extreme liberality with which a case that came under his notice was met by one of these friendly societies. It was the case of a young man who had been in his service, and who suddenly fell ill. He had recently joined a friendly society, and the amount of assistance he got from that society astonished him (Mr Bowen). He admired their generosity, but at the same time he could not help having some misgivings as to bow far the society could really afford to give such assistance." With a view, by procuring statistics and publishing reliable tables, to putting a stop to such societies allowing their generosity to outrun their judgment and to exceed their means, it was proposed in a resolution moved by Mr Rolleston that the Government should step in and assist them in arriving at an , exact estimate of the state of their pecuniary affairs. The wording: of the resolution was as follows: — " That it is desirable that the provisions of ' The Friendly Societies' Act, 1867,' which require action on the part of the Colonial Government, and which have hitherto remained to a large extent inoperative, should receive the immediate attention of the Government. That iurther provision is required to enable the several societies more effectively to manage their own affairs, especially in respect of registration, the regulation of tables of contributions, a periodical valuation of liabilities, an efficient system of audit, and the securing of the proper responsibility of their officers in respect of funds or property intrusted to them. That, in order to secure such provision, and fully to ascertaiu the requirements of the several societies, a Draft Bill be prepared and circulated among the friendly societies prior to the next session of Parliament, and that such Bill should be then submitted to Parliament." In the course of the speech made by Mr Rolleston in moving this resolution, which was agreed to, he said that " he considered it very desirable that the societies throughout the country should have an opportunity of considering fairly any proposals the Government intended to make with regard to their future management. What the societies wauted was the power of governing themselves, aud the power of enforcing their regulations ; and they further wanted — what he thought the Government ought to give, if it insisted upon the preparation of tables and other work that required the aid of actuaries — the Government to furnish them with the assistance of actuaries in *,the preparation of those tables. He believed such assistance would be amply repaid by the increased efficiency of societies which were so effectual in the prevention of poverty and the relief of distress." Mr Rolleston further said that if the suggestions to be laid before Parliament at its next session sprang from the societies themselves, it would secure their being cordially worked up to by the societies in future. Mr Rolleston was ably supported by Mr rihephard, and Mr Bowen, the Minister of Justice, said that the motion was one that the Government would havo groat pleasure in acceding to. Up to the present time, however, the Government have not, so far aa we aro aware, taken any steps to acquaint themselves with the wishes of the societies or to obtain' any suggestions from them. A few, however, of those in this district who are interested in the matter have decided to meet at Richmond to-morrow even- i ing and talk it over, and, we believe, they have invited their member, Mr A. J. Richmond, to be present, and to ascertain from them what are their views. So many of our settlers belong to one or another of these societies, to

the funds of which they have been subscribing for many years past, . that any measure that is likely to tend to their gopd management and to ensuring their being placed on a. sound aiid substantial basis should possess a peculiar interest for them, and it is, therefore, probable that those who take a leading part in their control will take the opportunity of being present on Tuesday night, and making their wishes known. Wo have amongst us here some few who have devoted much time and attention to the study of these \ matters, and the suggestions they will make will carry much weight with them, and will be entitled to the fullest consideration on the part of the Government.