LODGE BENEFITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1941, Page 5

LODGE BENEFITS

SOCIAL SECURITY

FRIENDLY SOCIETY'S POSITION

The Auckland district of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows considered on Saturday the position of members under the Social Security Act. After a lengthy discussion the following resolutions were passed:—

1. That lodges be recommended to approach medical officers to enter into contracts with them on the following basis:—

(a) That the doctors' remuneration shall be altered to provide that the amount payable from the Social Security Fund shall be accepted byl the medical officers in full settlement of ail medical services for which a j refund can be obtained from the Social Security Fund on a fee for service basis.

(b) That lodges undertake to supply the medical officers with; necessary forms, and on receipt ofi claims, duly certified, to collect from, the Social Security Fund the amounts due, and promptly remit| same to the medical officers.

(c) That members desiring to par-| ticipate in such medical benefits, shall contribute the sum of 6d per quarter, or such other sum as mav be found necessary by the lodge from time to time. Such contributions shall be used to cover the cost of postages, stationery, printing, or anv other charges in connection with the administration of such medical benefits.

(d) Provision should be made in contracts for medical officers to make such examinations and give such certificates as shall be required for the admission of candidates, and declaring on and off sickness certificates.

(e) It was further resolved that todges be advised to make application from the Social Security Fund of their members' medical contribu-l tions as from May 1, 1941, pursuant to the regulations issued by the Department of Health dated June 27, 1941 (circ. 4, Med. B.), and that thev be supplied with the p "t.»«ry information. -

Nearly 100 Years* Of Useful Work An interesting historical survey of the Manchester Unity in the Auckland district was supplied by the secretary, Mr. John McLeod. The order was a fraternal institution comprising 78 lodges with a membership approximating 9000 adult benefit members, he said. The lodges were located throughout the provincial district of Auckland, from Gisborne and Taumarunui in the South to Kaitaia in the North. The lodges have provided medical benefits at their own cost for members from the date of their establishment in 1844 to the present day. A lodge committee reported in 1844 that the health of the members was so good, that it was not necessary to engage a medical officer. The lodge, however, did not adopt the committee's recommendation.

The annual cost of providing! medical benefits averaged from 5/i a member in 1844 to 12/ a memberl in 1876 and 33/ a member in 1941.1 The medical contribution entitled members to medical attendance and medicine for members and for the wives and children of married members.

It was to be remembered thati] members and their wives were admitted to membership only upon the certificate of the lodge medical officer who certified that they were in perfect health. It was fair to assume that the calls for the service of the lodge medical officer would be within reasonable bounds since the doctor was called upon to attend to the ailments of healthy people and their: offspring. The society had never ex-! perienced any difficulty in obtaining! a medical service for its and their dependents, and their relations with the medical profession had 1 been of the happiest nature. Relations With Doctors It had been reported that the British Medical Association had reIcommended its members to terminate their contracts witL the registered friendly societies of New Zealand, ho! continued. It was surprising that! this action was taken without refer-! ence to or consultation with the! friendly societies. The Manchester; Unity of Oddfellows, however, was' -gratified to know that a considerable' number of its medical officers werei prepared to continue their happy! relations with the lodse members; upon the terms prescribed in the; Government Social Security regula-j tions. I