PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES COMMISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 10342, 16 June 1897, Page 2

PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES COMMISSION.

WELLINGTON, June 16. At the opening of the Commission the chairman aaiJ he wished to refer to the evidence given by J. G. Woods, secretary of the Wharf Lumpers' Association at Lytteltoo, who deposed that employers, by their preponderance on the Committee, had prevented men from registering, although they voted in favor of it by 61 to 59. The Commissioners had procured the minute book, and found the men had actually voted against by 63 to 58. It was true that Woods had aince written to correct his evidenoe, but he must have known p rfeotly well at the time that his statement was false, and gave an entirely wrong complexion to the paint involved, which was one of some moment. The Commission then took evidence respecting the Union Company's society. W. Jones, secretary to the teamen's i Union, was of opinion that the witnesses at I Dunedin bad not said all they knew because they were frightened to.' Here in Wellington there were a good many who could give entirely different evidence.' Men were repeatedly asked to join. This was bis own case, though he had been a Forester for years. Men in the ship with him book years ago were told that they must join or leave, Even under the altered rules the oompany still asked men who were not members of other societies to join. He admitted that the better meu should belong to some Bociety, but none of this description, wbioh was too muoh under the thumb of the Union Company. The society would not be so objectionable if brought into conformity with other societies and no compulsion were used, but the oompany ought to have nothing to do with it. He know oi a man on the Mawhera, in 1892, who was discharged beeause he would not join. Witness produced a letter of May 14, 1896, signed by the secretary, stating that the man Dorling would be discharged unless he joined forthwith and paid up from April 1. This was the letter he had had photographed and sent to Parliament and all round the colony, as the Hon. G. M'Lean had said. Dorling was a financial member of the Star of Egmont Lodge at the time. The Chairman said they had had this matter explained. Dorling had always returned himself ns unfinancial. They had had the books before them showing this. Witness continued: In his opinio* friendly societies offered better advantages t an this Bociety, notwithstanding the c upany's large contributions to the funds. He complained of men being called on to pay arrears and pass a medical examinatioi. There were plenty quite fit to work f • years who could not pass such an exa v'nation, and they lost . thoir employment. If an examination were wanted i h < should be modified. - He would prefer to see the Bociety abolished altogether, ..nd he did not think any society, even it carried on and managed by employed, shm.ul have the pos»r to compel their fellows to join. His objections summarised were that the society was practically compulsory and too much under the control of the company; he would rather increase contributions a little and do without the company's anlnidy, as the men would be free to do as they liked ; he also considered that the surrender values should be incorporated in the rules, as the men now did not know what they would get. Robert Aicheson, a fireman on the Stormbird, deposed that he and two otiier men were compelled to join the society or leave. The latter were members of shore lodges, and had to keep both going as members. They did not oare to sjive them up, but thought that employers ought w have no control over the society.