FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 17

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

DEPUTATION TO HON. MR MILLAR. AUOKLAND, January 15. While in Auckland the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Labour and 'Marine, met the officers of the - United ■ Friendly Societies' Dispensary and" Medical Instii tute. ' The President (Bro P. J. Nerheny) drew ( the attention of the Minister to the attitude of the local branch of the British' 'Medical 1 : Association in ostracising all -medical Ugentlemen , ,w/h(> ; took up the work-of -the Friendly Societies' Medical Institute. i Past President Bro., J. M'jLeod .pointed! ! out ( that- fthe; friendly societies .deserved! : some .'consideration by / the' Government, seeing that 1 by their existence "members were , providing for themselves affid 'their f wiveB j and' '-families, and thereby sieving aya v ■v^asfc , 'to the State in charitable aid. ' efc. In this connection he]- I thought -that some provision should be made in the v Hospital Bill by. which "'Hospital' Boards would be empowered to [make special arrangements for tho 'treatment "of friendly society members. ,Such, an* arrangement was in operation in H Auokland Tor' some years, by wbicli members were treated at the hospital for "hal 6 *feißy"-^hich'"'wa's guaranteed by the Friendly j Societies' Conference, and which \resultecß dn .-Hospital ,Board receiving 'from the |.so©*eti(» r gvejg £500 per annum, this | \jßcky)!b bKrtg^ raised by ' a , levy '"over -a ' very large membership. ! The Hon. Mr Mill&r, in reply, said that friendly societies had his fullest sympathy. y*^Bsi&g!iss^ ?^ im ?£¥' "^d .had been jwQP^K^^H^B^^^wirs:-- -~>!He- v "was- $*erefore ! fully conversant with the good work car- |' sied on "'hy -friendly • " <^W ith regard to the Friendly Societies Bill, it' was j aliaost); ■c»ctajn /.<io^ come be£oise*-'the Hopse , rfeWsjS&ion. and would undoubtedly ba submitted to the various 'districts or heads ]of societies before "being finally dealt ] with; "*i isw noiii