FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1919, Page 11

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. States the Minister for Finance in the annual Budget:— The Government's concession of paying one-half the cost of the mortality benefits of soldier members since the outbreak of war, and which was in 1918 merged in the Departmental Reinsurance Fund, was terminated on the 31st March last, although renevrecr ri»ks up to that date will have twelve months to run. The cost of the subsidy from 1914 to .1916 by way of votes in aid of the outside reinsurances of the societies was £11,900. In the Departmental Reinsurance Fund, operating since 1916 under mutual agreement between the Government and the societies, there were 11,038 members insured, and, up to date', deaths have been recorded. The Government's contribution towards this fund amounts to £24,271.

The Government recognised the claims of the societies to consideration on account of the losses to their benefit funds occasioned by the non-payment of contributions by soldiers ivhilo absent on service. A grant was authorised which will have the effect of reinstating' the funds. Up to the 31st March the amount of £10,117 had been paid to societies' funds on this account. A further payment of £25,00 will be necessary to tricot the liability, and a vote for that amount will be submitted in the current year's estimates.

The difficult problem of dealing with the future sickness of discharged soldiers, which is anticipated to be in excess of normal, has also been taken up, and the Government has authorised the establishment of special soldiers' sick funds for the purpose of isolating these risks.

Under the social-insurance system enacted in 1910 for the benefit of friendly societies, maternity claims numbering 6,554, amounting to £2G,2l(i, have been paid out by the Government since the Ist January, '1917. It is intended to 'increase this allowance to members of friendly societies from £4 to £O, and raise the income qualification above the rate fixed in the main Act.

It will be seen, therefore, tliat the Government has met the various difficulties of the societies as they have arisen. The value of subsidy and benefits granted during the war period for assistance has readied a total of £97,594, exclusive of the State's liability for soldier excess sickness.