The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 313, 6 October 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1875.

u We shall sell to no man justice Qrrjghts We shall deny to justice or right: We shall defer to no man 01.7

Associations for m«*iial benefit, chiefly among the working classes, are' of the utmost TmTp(ft , t!fticc'*Tn l a community. The pf, ,'htrinan life and health, and the effects of these on the well-being of who. are dependent for their subsistence on human labor, are too manifest not to have arrested the attention of men in all ages, and to Eave taxed their ingenuity to guard against them. The ancient Greeks and Romans have had their benefit socities for providing for the aged'and the sick, in guilds and corporation?; *n(i: that, too, on principles corresponding more or less, closely with the l ■friendly societies of modern Europe. As early as the ninth century these societies flourished in England, in connection with Municipal institutions, and ever since they have been recognised as most necessary institutions. In 1793 their importance came to be so strongly felt in Great Britain that they.were made.kTk'dbiject of -statutory protection and regulation. ai;<J. very numerous enactments have since been passed regarding . them. They exist now rti'all parts civilised world, and are increasing, with <.anw.iTig rapidity—a conclusive proof of their utility. a:'mil 8

Benefit Societies are ,8 forpi. of mutual insurance,' and, lile all insurances, they depend on the principle of substituting the certainty which attends the fortunes of large numbers of men for the uncertainty which belongs to the fortune of each. The objects which these societies contemplate, are the securing, in virtue of a small periodical payment, during health and vigour, of a weekly allowaneeVlnwr.g sieHfefcs. Tff' sotne -respects the joining of a benefit spejety is better than bbcomihg 'a depositor in a Savings Bank.yb&ckness may: come before the savings are considerable ; or, if considerable,- they may be ftelted away by a long continued illness ; whereas after the first weekly payment is made .ip a benefit society, the member has secured to himself a source whence aid will be accorded to him, however long his sickness may continue, besides other advantages. The sick allowance varies from 15s to 20s per week, with medical attendance and medicine for himself and family—benefits which cannot possibly be secured in any other way for the small payment of 2s a week. Nor is this all. At the death of a member or a member’s wife, a liberal allowance is made for funeral expenses ; and widows and orphans of members are also cared for. It is essential to the character of a proper benefit society that individuals be not admitted indiscriminately ; for to take a person in bad health or of a broken constitution, would be unjust to those members who are healthy, because he is obviously more likely to become a speedy burden to the funds than one in good health, and with a sound constitution would be. Here, as in Life Assurance Societies, it is necessary to admit members only upon their shewing that they are of sound constitution and in the enjoyment of good health. By these means, men

are ijkduaed tib-enter whes. th.et.are -apd. well;, of pdstp4hiit|j ;thet.stepvAis miny. inconsiderately dj? —untiMhey have ; a passing need for gg% into a benefit society becomes little else than a fraud. By the inauguration of a local branch of the Hibernian Australasian Benefit--Society oh Saitirday eveiySkg last, we have now two benefit 4?r.qj s^,: '.3?’ : - e A c - usi '' e Society—which is also a benefit society of a that there' is'a probability of a thif'<f_ : -esfeMrsiretfwre fengr 'With but" yet limited population, the founding', -ef ee many-ueeful institutions amongst us is a saljtftaa-y ijidicatiop £>f the"; ptp-( vident proclivities or the people—especially the t'rogl., whose rank’s , f6ose'*Boeielies’ are' priii-

ticipaJly' forHibd.v'! As -y et the numberof members of each of our local is'gbmpAratively as accessions are being eonstantiy'ffiadfe’to'' the population, it may be expected that the membership will increase, and that in a year or two hence the societies will be in a position to purchase allottWeiiis bfPFatfff WMV in. This, we understand, they already contemplate-dortig. f rThere ' are many eligible persons’- fit'the'disti'iet, wfA' -MhWiW'yet ! *<’ anybenefitsociety,notwithstanding±he substantia^w^e^^te (?^^? ow>ij>s hold out; and upon such we would urge the propriety of’-becamiag .members at* once. 4 .s'lnaiiaTl) Ijiin uo aO .st-