SOCIAL SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1938, Page 5

SOCIAL SECURITY

THE POSITION OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED ONE IOTA. OPINION OF HON. W. L. MARTIN. “In my opinion the Social Security Bill is not going to affect Friendly Societies one iota. Rather, is it going to help them, and to take a great burden off their shoulders.” Thus spoke the Hoh. W, Lee Martin, Minister in. Charge of Friendly Societies, at a gathering of over 200 people representative of the Friendly Societies movement in New Zealand who attended the golden jubilee celebrations of the St. Michael’s branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in Masterton on Saturday night. It was generally anticipated that the Minister would have something to say on a Bill which was of such vital importance to the Friendly Societies in New Zealand, and references to it were made by several speakers in the hope of “drawing” the Minister. DRAWING THE MINISTER. The Mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, was the first speaker to refer to the matter. In congratulating the St. Michael’s branch on attaining its golden jubilee, Mr Jordan said that he hoped there would be nothing in the Social Security Bill that would detrimentally effect the Friendly Societies. “I am just going to say a word or two about that bill,”-said Mr Jordan amidst laughter and applause. (The Hon. W. Lee Martin: “It is well worth talking about.”) In England the authorities had taken advantage of the experience of Friendly Societies in framing the English Social Bill. Eventually the fund had gone back nearly one hundred millions; now, however, it was about square and the Friendly Societiesh ad found some half of the deficit. “I hope there will be no shortage in this Dominion:'there ought not to be,” said Mr Jordan. (Mr Martin: “Hear! Hear.”).

Continuing, Mr Jordan said that he thought that as far as New Zealand was concerned there would be some adjustments necessary; and, if it were so he hoped it would be in order that justice and protection would be extended to a great social and charitable movement. (Applause). In any case, the Government proposal was no novelty; it operated in some twenty-five other countries. (Hear! Hear!). CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED. Mr J. Stratford, G.D.V.P., said that the Social Security Bill in his opinion would be all right. “Mr Jordan seems to be a bit scared about it,” said Mr Stratford, “but there is no reason for him to be.” Mr J. Connors, president of St. Michael’s branch, who occupied the chair, said that it did not stand to reason that a Minister of the Crown like Mr Martin, who had attained the highest rank in a Friendly Society in New Zealand, would countenance anything which would be likely to do injury to the Friendly Society movement. Mr W. Brady said he had heard it stated that if everybody belonged to a Friendly Society there would be no need for such a measure as a Security Bill. “Though others may have a different idea, I do not think that such a function as this is the place to bring up the question of the Government's Security Bill,” said Mr Brady, amidst laughter.

THE MINISTER’S REPLY. On rising to speak the Minister was greeted with prolonged applause. Mr Martin introduced his reference to the Security Bill by stating that he had been actively associated with Friendly Societies for forty years and had attained the highest rank in New Zealand that the Order of the Druids could give him. He could, therefore, claim to know something of the working of Friendly Societies. What, he asked, was the underlying motive in the establishment of Friendly Societies? They came into existence among men to assist each other. In the early period of their establishment they were mpstly fraternal in character, but gradually the need for help in sickness and in death manifested itself, and as the years passed by the benefit aspect becanie paramount. For many years it had been recognised that Friendly Societies could only cater for a limited number of people in a community, and all the world over today it had been found that something more was needed than that which was covered by the Friendly Society movement. “When a man or woman joined a Friendly Society he or she must be a first class risk,” said the Minister. “Consequently the bulk of the population was unprovided for—denied the advantage of security the benefits which a Friendly Society provided. That was why there was need today for a Social Security Bill.” Continuing, the Minister said that gradually governments the world over had to shoulder responsibilities and pj-ovide means for dealing with those citizens outside the scope of Friendly Society movement. One had only to check over the records to see the large number of lodge members who had to relinquish their membership during the depression, although Friendly Societies had given assistance to needy members in many directions. It was only members in sheltered positions who could maintain their membership in slump periods. The necessity for meeting the needs of the people, both with regard to health and insurance, had been gradually forced upon the Government. Under the Government’s Bill ,the sick man would be secured against want, and he and his wife and children would be protected, •as well as being able to receive benefits from any lodge to which they may belong. He said that Mr Robertson, the member for Masterton, had rendered excellent service in connection with tile work associated with the production of the Bill, and deserved the greatest credit for the part he had played. Mr Martin concluded by stating that in Ins opinion the Social Security Bill was not going, to affect Friendly Societies one iota; rather was it going to help them, and to take a great burden off their shoulders. There would be a permanent amount for a sick man as well as Friendly Society help. The Minister resumed his seat amidst cheers and prolonged applause. BENEFITING THE MAJORITY.

Mr J. Robertson, M.P., who was applauded on rising to speak, said he felt sure that in time people would look back, and appreciate the fact that the Social Security Bill was something enacted for <the benefit of the great majority of the populace. “You know we had the same old Jeremiahs condemning the Old Age Pensions Bill as far back as 1898, as we have today condemning the Social Security Bill," said Mr Robertson, who went on to read extracts from Hansard of 40 years ago of speeches delivered by Mr W. C. Buchanan, afterwards Sir Walter Buchanan, in which opposition was displayed to the Old Age Pensions Bill, and injury to the Friendly Society movement predicted as the result of the introduction of the Old Age Pension scheme. In the Old Age Pensions was to be found the spirit of the Friendly Societies, said Mr Robertson. The Social Security Bill would no more injure the Friendly Societies than the Old Age Pensions Act had. The great progress which Friendly Societies had made since the introduction of the Old Age Pensions Bill was evidence that there had been no harmful effects. The cooperation of Friendly Societies was going to be sought and used in the administration of the Social Security Bill. What finer text could be found than that which actuated the Friendly Society movement —“bear ye one another's burdens.” (Loud applause). Therein, too, was to be found the spirit of that great movement. (Hear! Hear!). “The Social Security Bill,” said Mr Robertson in conclusion, “would have the effect of making New Zealand one great big Friendly Society (loud applause).” Mr J. Connors thanked the Minister for having honoured the gathering by his attendance with Mrs Martin and Miss Martin, and for his references to the Social Security Bill as it effected Friendly Societies.