PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 150, 30 June 1897, Page 5

PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

ROYAL COMMISSION.

The sittings of tho Royal Commission bo inquire into bhe workings of private benofib societies were resumed at tho Ministers' room, Government Building., this morning, there being present Mr E. Tregear (Chairman), the Hon. VV. J. Steward, M.H.U., and MrG. Fisher, M.H.R. Mr W. Crow.hor, M.H.ft., was again in attendance as a visitor.

BANK OP SEW ZEALAND PE.OYIDENT FU_.D.

Major Steward oaid he had roceived an anonymous couimumeatiou addressed bo him as a member of bho Comaiission, ashing thab some of the officers of the Bank of New Zealand be examined, who feel tho irksomeneaa and the hardship of being compelled to contribute compuleorily to the Provident Fund.

Major Steward suggested that if the persou or porsona who forwarded tho communication would send tho namoa they wished examined tho Commission would Bond for them. This was agreed to.

Mr (9. S. Kissling also wrote thab being one of thoao who contributed from tho lirso to the Bank of New Zealand Assurance Fund, and who did not receive any consideration from the fund on retiring from the service ol bho Bank, that he would be glad to give ovidence before tho Commiasion.

It was agreed that Mr Kiasling bs Bum moned.

THli COLONIAL SPGAB COMPANY SOCIETIES.

In further examination yesterday, alter w. went to press, Henry McLaughian deposed thab in subscunco the petition was trno. Tho men said they would rather have to pay twico tho contributions so long as they could manage their own affairs. A balance-sheet was issued. The men would rather have froadom of action instead of the so-called beno-ic out of the Provident Fund. Ho had nc doubt what thoir opinion would bo if they had freedom to express it.

Roborb Thompson, juu., workman in the employ of ttie Sugar Company for ten years, was a member of bho Oddfellows, but gave it up to join the Sugar Works Society. It cost him Is 3d per week to belong to the Oddfellows, and he thought there was move advantage in belonging u» fcho Sugar Company's bocioty. Everyone was in favour of the Benefit Society. There were, no doubt, a fow grievances in connection with the Provident Fund. The majority ot the men were in favour of the Frovidont Fund. Mr Muir came over from Sydney, and enlightonod the men, and they then liked the Provident Society better. Tho only grievanco that ho knew against tho Provident Fund was thab tbo man could nob afford to bolong to a benefit society too. Ho knew persona thirteen years in tho employ of tho Company who had not joined tha Society, and they wore still in tho Company's employ. He was askod to sign a petition brought round by workmen against the Privato Benefit Society, but lie did not do bo. A number of mon signed againsb the Bill. Thoy did not want tho Bill to no through the Houeo because, it would destroy thoir bocioties. Ho would bo in favour ot a Bill that would strengthen tho. man's position. Ho should say nino per cent, of tho mon signed against the Bill. He thought thab McLaughlan was foolod into tho mutter by the men, and now they laughGd at him. If tho inoia had their own hea will in the matter they would " chuck " the Bill out ol tha llouso. The majority of tho mon wero in favour of tho Benefit Society and Providenb Fund. Ib was believed thab if tho Bill passed bho whole societies would bo broken up all together. He thought tho Company was fair. Major Steward : I think tho Company is very lair indeed. Witness further so id tho Hociotio? made tho men mor. contented and kept them fcogothor, as they know thom.olvoa and wives wc-ro proviriad for. Mr Fisher : D:. you know tho con fonts of tho Bill of 18S5? Witnoes: No. Mr Fisher : Then why do you give an opinion on a Bill on which you know absolutely nothing. Wibnoes Bald ho thought it would do away with li_e__o sociotio.?. Mr Fi-ihor : Weil, ib ia only your impression. Witness, aftor hesitation : Tho Bill was to put down benefit societies. Mr Fisher: Rabhor to strengthen thorn, i 1 think. 1 Tho Bill was then placed in the hands of witnoss, and Mr Fishor remarked : The whole opposition appoars to be ba.od on inaccurate information about the Bill. It is mere assumption. Witness said that if the Socioly wa3 registered the Company would not contribute. It would take the power oub of thoir hand. They contributed to the Provident Fund of tho society. The Company did all thoy could tor ihe working man. Major Steward : Why should the Sugar Company object to register -the society in New Zealand, when the society i 3 registered in .New South Wale*? Witness said ho could not cay. MrTrogoar: Does it nob seem singular to you thab the Company will nob register in New Zealand? Can you give any reason 1

Witness said ho could givo no ground wiry tho Company did object.

Witness said ho did not think thab bhoro waa another Company as gonorous to tho working man as the Colonial Sugar Company. Tho Company paid the best wages in bho colony.

Patrick Dnnohuo, in tha service of bho Company ovor seven years, said ho subscribed to tho Benefit Society and Provident Fond. • It was the general opnion that tho benefit pocicty was a good one. Ho had hoard grumbling about the Provident Fund. lie paid la 3d into tho two sociotios. Tho benefit- wero as good as ho could receive anywhere else. Ho was favourable to both Hociotioa and was not ono of tho grumblers. Ho was fivo years in bhe societies and could draw his money oub. Tho company contributed. He signed some of the petitions for tho Benefit and Provident Sociotio3 to bo kept on.

Major Steward : What was tho reason you signed tho Bill ? The witness said he thought thab ib would do away with the Company's sociebies.

Mr Fisher .- Who interpreted or bold you whab bho offee'. of Mr Sadclon'a Bill of 1896 would be ?

Witness said that ho had read (ho BUI. He signed against the Bill bocauso tbo companies' societies miitod him. If he had known tho Bill would keep thoir society on and strengthen it, he would not have signed bho petition against. He signed the petition under tho belief that ib would do away with thoir societies.

Major Steward explained to the witness that tho Commiosion wanted to got ab why tho men signed a petition against the Bill. Ho personally thought bho eociaty a good one.

Witness said there was no compulsion needed for him to sign tho petition against the Bill. Ho could nob aay thab the men were baken in bho office one by one to sign the petition againsb the Bill. Ho was asked by tho manager to join it, and thought that ib was a very good thine James Harris, a workman in the employ of the Company for 12 years, deposed that he belonged to both Societies. He was in favour of the Benefit Society. The contributions of the Company and men had always met all liabilities. The surplus ab tho end of the year was handed over to trustees in Sydney. Ho was satisfied with the provident fund. Ib waa quite optional

whether workaaen.joined the providenb fund. There was dissatisfaction amonc some of the mon with regard to bhe providenb fund. Re was bhe man thab wenb round wibh the petition againsb the Bill introduced into the last Parliament. He thought it was a Bill similar to thab brought forward by Mr Millar, Sir Goorge Grey and Mr Reeves. They pabitionod againsb the Bill because they thought ib would interfere with tho Company's Societies, He waa Secretary of tho Benefit Society last year, and learned thab if ono Socioty required to bo registered more than the other the Company would nob conbribubo, and the Societies bo broken up.

Mr Fisher : What reason would the Company have for withdrawing their subsidy if the Society waa rogiaterod in New Zealand '!

Wibnoss said he thought- the only reaaon was the control of the money. The accumulation ol the provident fund was bankod by trustees in Sydney. There was no other society could give him the same benofita. Questioned with ragard to tho petition of Henry McLaughlan witness .aid ho could bear out tho statement in the petition a9 to shortening of hands. Men who belonged bo the Provident Fund would havo preference. The allegations iv tho petition as to coercion being used to compel employees to join tho Company's Societies was untrue. The petition was the outcome of a letter cent to Mr Pinkerton. He could not say why the Company wished to use. a controlling hand in regard to both Societies.

Frodk. Hubble, employed in the Colonial Sugar Company for the past twelvo years, paid ho kept the books for the Provident Fund. Tho contribution was baken off the men's wages and waa paid into the credib of the branch. About half of the funds were invested with the Company ab six pur conb. for thorn to do whab they liked with. If tho Company wa3 aa successful in bho noxb 20 years aa in the pasb ib was a very good thing.

(Loft Sitting.)