FRIENDLY SOCIETY AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 8553, 27 June 1891, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETY AFFAIRS

(.From Ouh Own Gokrespondknt j WELLINGTON, Jcot 27. A circular from the Seamen's Union in opposition to the proposed Union Company's mutual benefit society was considered at a meeting of friendly societies, held in Manchester Unity- Chambers last night. There was a large attendance of delegates. Messrs Taylor and Millbank (representatives of the Seamen's Union) were heard on the subject, after which the matter was discussed at length. The general feeling of the delegates was in favor of resenting the formation of any institution on friendly society lines, in which compulsory membership was a factor, as being an encroachment on the domain of the regular societies. Ultimately a committee was appointed to communicate with the city members of Parliament on the subjeot, and, if necessary, to arrange for a general meeting of members of friendly societies and ascertain their feelings. The friendly societies in the Auckland district have lately entered into an arrangement which must considerably enhance the usefulness of those benefit institutions. It ia this: Any member of a society who may remove to a country township where no lodge belonging to his own institution has been founded, is allowed to secure the services of the medical officer of any sooiety that does exist there, snbjeot to the payments of the amounts due to the doctor in advance, and certain other reasonable conditions. The system is understood to have worked well, and at last night's meeting of the Friendly Sooieties' Vigilant Committee it was proposed to bring about a similar plan of interchange in Wellington. The idea was very favorably entertained, and the Committee decided to remit the matter to the various lodges in the city for an expression of opinion.