LODGES & GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 165, 2 April 1918, Page 8

LODGES & GOVERNMENT

THE NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT CRITICISED At tho conference of tho New Zealand branch, Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows, yesterday the Grand Master (Mr. I. Salek) said that the branch had temporarily linked up with tho National Provident Fund, and the conference would be asked to ratify tho arrangement. The proposals of the Government did not appear to bo favourably received. While the maternity bonus was approved by members, very strong objection was taken to the fact that a special section of the community had. been selected for these bonefits while hundreds of other members, equally deserving, were denied the payment of the bonus. Personally ho was. of opinion that if tho cost to the Government of fully £20,000 had beon applied towards assisting tho friendly societies to carry out their obligations to tho sick and wounded soldier members, much' more satisfaction would have resulted. There, were complaints against the provisions and the working of the pension fund,- and "ho would, strongly adviso the Government to consult with the societies so that a better • spirit may exist between tho two Departments. The antagonism was not surprising when it was considered that the deed of partnership had never been submitted to lodge members, but had merely been shown, as a confidential document, to four out of 14,000 members. Tho lodges had not been consulted about the proposals. If the Government had allowed the several organisations, io discuss and make recommendations,- a much better and more agreeable scheme would have resulted. The Grand Master, added that when tho war was ended a vigorous ' campaign must bo started to increase the lodge membership, since for years past there had been a .decline in membership: During the last .five years the lodgos had lost 1076 members. The Government should be approached to allow the friendly societies to oxhibit posters in all post "offices, railway stations, and public institutions, these posters to set out the benefits offered by the friendly societies and their, general principles. Among matters to bo considered in the future would bo the improvement of tho regulations governing post. office savings bank accounts: the reservation by the Government of sections in remote townships, and the creation of lodge rooms under the control of appointed authorities; the continuance of the sale of Government bonds and certificates to friendly societies; the appointment of Government auditors, attached to the Friendly Societies' Department, who would pay ,periodical visits to lodges and receive payment for their.services sufficient to cover the cost to the Government. The report of the board of directors stated that it would be necessary for the conference to consider the question of finally becoming an approved society under the. Finance Act. The National Provident Fund Board, in the rules submitted to the societies desiring to , become approved, required that district branches must also become "provisidnally approved" before members of lodges in such districts were entitled to maternity benefits for their wives. Considerable misunderstanding appeared to have arisen in regard ,to the question of becoming approved, and the privileges accruing thereby, as there had been an /impression that lodges could have the. privileges of maternity bonefits for their members, but I were not compelled to accept applications from members to be contributors for annuity benefits. Such was not the case. ''Maternity benefits were available to members of friendly societies notwithstanding that there might not bo any members in the lodge contributing for annuity benefits, but should a member desire to become a contributor for annuity benefits as* provided in the rule,_ it was illegal for any. lodge in connection with an approved society to refuse to accept contributions for such annuity benefits. Much opposition to the acceptance of annuity members had been occasioned by the lack of detailed information from the National Provident. Fund Board ks to the provisions governing the working of annuity bene-' tits... The report contained-some tables illustrating the working of the annuity benefits.

"The question of superannuation or annuity benefits is one. that has been considered by many friendly societies," added the report, "and provision is made in the rules for lodges, by consent of the district, to establish superannuation funds. That such provision is .highly desirable is evident to any member who has closely considered the claims for sick pay in regard to some of the older members, as in many cases these claims arc not sucn as are strictly in accordance with the rules, as the members are not suffering from auy specific sickness. It will be seen bv a careful perusal of the table supplied by the registrar that tho provision is a genuine attempt on the part of the Government to assist friendly societies —through the National Provident Fund —to make provision for their members to obtain annuity or superannuation benefits on what would appear advantageous terms. For instance, when a member, who has qualified for annuity benefits and reaches the age of seventy years he will have drawn from the National Provident Fund the sum of £260, tho lodge having only paid the sum of £55 12s. Should be reach the age of seventy-five years lie will have received the sum of £390, the lodge having only paid the sum of £55 12s. It will therefore be seen that under this scheme it is possible to remove the difficulties surrounding continuous sick pay in tho course of years, should members elect to contribute for annuities, and they would be provided with an annuity on reaching the age of sixty whether they were sick or well." The matter will be discussed at a later stage of the conference.