NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 80, 25 September 1911, Page 2

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

■MORE ADVERTISING REQUIRED. In the House of Representatives on Saturday the vote of £425 for salaries for administration of the National Provident Funcl gave members an opportunity of asking questions as to its progress. "It is meeting with success," replied Sir Joseph Ward. Mr, llerrics suggested that the fund wanted a considerable amount of advertising. Comparatively wealthy people were taking up policies for their sons and daughters, hut the ordinary workmen did not appear to have been approached. Mr. Forbes remarked that Government Life Insurance agents had told him they Ciime across men who were thinking of going in for the National Provident Fund, but tlie agents, anxious to do business for which they got commission, discounted the Provident Fund. It would be better if the fund was placed under the Government Insurance Department and run on the commission basis like other branches of the department. "NOT A COMMERCIAL VENTURE." The Prime Minister replied that the fund was not established for commercial purposes, but to fill a great social purpose. It could not lie run 'in the same way as a great commercial institution. It required to be worked on an entii-ly different basis. Twenty thousand circulars had been distributed in one city alone, and this system of advertising was going on steadily all over the country, They did not want to injure tlie friendly societies, and did not wish to put men into the position of securing large commissions out of persons who joined the fund. He was quite satisfied that the fund would he a big success, and that the wage-earners would e.onie in eventually. Steadily aud surely ilv> system was permeating the country. Mr. 11. ft. Ell expressed the opinion that the department had done remarkably well in circularising the wageearners and other member of the general I public. Mr. Tsitt: The premium is cut so tine that there is no margin for commission*,? Sir Joseph Ward: The State has to subsidise it. The department docs no', intend to rely entirely on circulars. An officer will from time to time go round' the country explaining the scheme and discussing it with the people. The vote was agreed to.