FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1921, Page 3

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING, The twelfth annual meeting of delegates of the Taranaki United Friendly ’ Societies’ Association was held at Strut- [ ford yesterday. Present: Bros. A. J. Tunbridge (Waireka A.0.F.) chairman, F. A. Coleman (Waireka A.0.F.), R. Pepperell (New Plymouth A.0.F.), W. Draper (Raleigh A.0.F.) W. A. Adams (Hawera U.A.0.D.), Kivell (Stratford A.0.F.), Ewens (Waitara Druids), R. S. Sage (Hawera), R. H. Geddes (Inglewood Foresters A.0.F.), Thompson (1.0.0. F. Agaard (1.0.0. F. H. Egan {lnglewood 1.0jR.), J. W. Jones (Stratford). The annual report’ stated that the association had an improved financial position, the accounts owing for the year’s transaetions ( £475 7s), being a decrease of £204 9s 6d on the amount owing on the previous year’s transactions. Although the association was still in debt to the extent of £475 7s the executive hoped that the financial position would improve and that in due time the association would, be free of debt. Another important feature was the considerable increase in membership, the total number of members at the end of the year being 2493, being an increase of 309 members. The amounts paid in hospital accounts amounted to £2172 16s 6d, being an increase of £497 15s 3d over the previous year. During the year four new lodgrs had joined the association. After giving the matter very serious consideration the executive was of the opinion that the age of children dependent on members should be reduced from 16 years to 14 years. The secretary was requested to tabulate his expenditure in relation to the treatment of all children up to 14 and from 14 to 1(S, and present Iris report at the next annual meeting.

There was a discussion on whether the member of the association should pay the sum charged over and above the sum paid by the association to hospital boards for treatment of members’ children. Bro. Ewens held that- the association could not discriminate between a member and his child. A member was covered to the extent of £3O, and when a child was in hospital it should also be covered to that amount. He wished to know if parents were liable for the amount charged over and above the money paid by the association to hospital boards. Replying to Bro. Sage the secretary said that several hospitals in New Zealand were considering the charging of higher prices.

The chairman said, that the association was still in debt to the extent of £475 and it was only by economising in Tittle ways that the association could build up a strong financial position. The association was an unlimited liabilty company and if there were many £3O claims on it the association would soon be in a bad way. If those present were all of the same mind he was quite agreeable that the association should go on paying the whole amount per day charged by hospital boards, instead of only paying 4s 6d and requiring members. to meet the difference. The secretary said that there were 67 members who had not paid their levy. It was decided that the matter should be left in the hands of the executive to deal with.

The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Bro. R. S. Sage (Hawera) ; vice-president, Bro. F. A. Coleman (New Plymouth); executive, Bros. C. D. Sole (Stratford), R. H. Geddes (Inglewood), W. S. Gilbert (New Plymouth) and Ewens (Waitara) ; auditor, Bro. R. Pepperell, F.P.A. (NX), (New Plymouth), secretary and treasurer, H. R. Cattley (New Plymouth).