BENEFIT SOCIETIES COMMISSION. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1897, Page 2

BENEFIT SOCIETIES COMMISSION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir — A great stir is being made by certain friendly societies with a view of" getting a Commission' to consider their position. I think the law laid down by Act or Parliament defines what may and may not be done with the capital of these societies. The law says you shall not invest in building or investment societies, &c, and the Registrar should see that this clause is carried out. What has he done in the matter ? So far as I know, he has given notice to the societies that any money so invested must be withdrawn, or to that effect. Some societies or branches have obeyed his injunction, others have ignored his dictum and have made considerable profits thereby, and the Registrar has had the grim satisfaction of recording the fact that the dei >ri uents show considerably above par, and b 'lowed them to appropriate a large ? « > ge of surplus capital. Another questibn^p ». •t al importance to my mind is the queitioi of contributions. These are .not now under the control of the Registrar, and societies wishing to enrol members adopt a low scale, and consequently can never be in a satisfactory position. My opinion is that the Registrar should have a scale showing that for given benefits a certain scale of contributions must be paid, thus putting.all societies on an equal' footing. Of coutse, in the above I' am alluding' to the benefit fund only ; the management fund must look after itself, either by a regular subscription or by levy. All societies of any standing have recognised, I think, the .necessity of a graduated scale instead of the " shilling a week " system that is so prejudicial to the younger members of a lodge. In this case two men— one 20 and the other 40 years of age — join a society, both paying the same fees, and both drawing the same amount at death. Which has the best of it ? The thing is so simple that a boy in the fourth standard would answer it in a moment. Yet I am credably informed that some societies still continue this vicious system. One of the delegates stated that he was a Manchester Unity man at one time — that he was a Past Noble Grand Master. It must have been some summers since he was a member, as a brother is either a Past Noble Grand or Past Grand Master, and the attempt to draw the Manohester Unity in to give weight to his statement is unasked for by the Unity, and done without its consent, so far as I can hear. At the same time, should a Commission sit on the matter, I expect the Unity would have something to say. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, &c, Inteeested.

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