SOLDIERS' INSURANCE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2770, 13 May 1916, Page 8

SOLDIERS' INSURANCE.

Sir,—The Government having decided to reimburse friendly saciclics In the extent of half the, premiums paid for insuring members on active service, tin; -\'w Zealand I'eilerateil Tyiragraphical industrial Association of -"Workers apnlicd for a similar grant. The association is comiwsed of all the typographical r-nioiis in the Dominion, and has a membership of i) 93. Of this number .100 (or slightly over .10 per cent, of the total membership) have enlisted in the 2vew Zealand.Forces. The association has a mortality scheme, under which the next-of-kin or' any member of two years' financial > standing in any one of tho unions affiliated to the

association, arc entitled, in (lie eVent of the member's dentil. It) the sum pi .£2O. This amount is provided for out of the ordinary subscription ((id. per week) paid into, the union. The members on aetivo service are being kept; in lull benefit- wliilo serving with tlio colours without any payment 011 tli'eir part, and the association is insuring all such members with a repu'taUe insurance company to the amount of its liability (.£2O in each cast). Further, the association lias already paid out the sum of £U0 from its own funds to tlio relatives of tare? members killed in action. The Government, liowoiver, through (lie Hon. W. J.''. Jfassey (.Minister of Tiahour) has declined the grant in tlio following terms:—

"Ollice of the .Minister of Labour, " Wellington, April 28, 1016. "Tiie Secretary, i\"w Zealand Federated Typographical Industrial Association of Workers (Mr. J. HarpeH, 10 Mowbray Street, Wellington.' "Dear -Sir,—ln further reference to tho application of your association, dated September 4 last, for a grant similar to that rc-coiftly authorised for friendly societies to reimburse the association for part of tho cost of _ insuring' those members that are on active service, I have now to state that tile mutter lias received consideration ill Cabinet, which regrets that it • annnt see its way at nrescnt to authorise the grant asked for. It is considered that i">io»* and associations registered under the T.C. and A. Act are on a different footing in respect of benefits from'friendly societies, funds are subject to actuarial invest Nation. "Yours faith fullv. "(Signed) "W. F. MASPEY." While it is.undoubtedly the iik-l- f^ 1 ' tiie funds of unions and associations rr""trt"il under the I.C. ami A-. Act urn ■ ' s'lbirH to actuarial investigation, th" ' • remains that tho association is ptile insurance premiums, and as the eminent is only asked fc.i reimburse luu:'

oi what has already b-3-i-n paid, the funds not being subject to actuarial investigation- do not'enter into the question' at ail. The Government is appealing for. re. cruits, and it would'go a long way to encourage recruiting among members of industrial unions (who already can show a good record) if differentiations such as tlio one noted above were not resorted to by the powers that be. On behalf of, and by instruction of tlra executive of the X.Z. Federated Tvpographical Industrial Association of Workers—l am, etc., ■ JAMES HAIiPER, Secretary. May 11. . .