THE HON. J. BARR AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Evening Star, Issue 14689, 5 October 1911, Page 4

THE HON. J. BARR AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

to Tin; i.oiroK. Sir.--The opmk.n of the Hon. J. Barr, iis ivpor'.-d in a local in Monday's issue, v-< t'"> r-r; \\:n least amazing. What .has npfi* t.h.i-~ Vm. gentleman's equalibnnn that ho i'-hi>',iki hope for the complete annihilation yf r.-:r)i institutions? One would iniaiH';" trv-.t these i-hilanthrome societies were t.poc-n-feii, and received from the OoYfmnißjit )r,nr.e the usual snbsidy granted to ehnritabie organisations, instead \ of vebig thrr.vzh cblofjny and misunderstanding, ;ind r..*:il!M!!( : d the principles of financial stabilit.v and actuarial soundness. One woi:!d 'imazine that the Hon. Mr Barr woiii.l rsppivriato the noble self sacrifice ■ li'-nlpv rl by thousands of men during the List I f!0 yea/c—- men who have not only cone <::<■■■,{ pioneering work (as the lion. gejitie;na;i wonld graciously admit), but have built up such sound organisations as to l>e ;;ble i.<> give such benefits to its members whi--!i no State scheme coukl attempt. Let tha lien. J. Birr devise some fiehe'uip which will give greater benefits for ! s 1 id per week than those offered by r-ur .-n::iot_v--namely, doctor's attendance, free medicine, . 20s" pci- week first six months, ISs second six months, and 10s remainder of sickness, £3O funeral benefit, with a special fund for alleviating distress casss. :i!so free bed in the Hospital for members on the dispensary list. Again, the benefits not -only apply to the member, bur al<o to his wife and family up to 18 years of age. Added to these there are social and edueation.il advantages. This is only made possible by the gratuitous labors on the part of the officers of lodges, whose untiring mercy in the cause of humanity has called forth Royal recognition and praise from all leading statesmen. If the hom gentleman who is a member of a democratic Government will endeavor to introduce some system of exchange that will give to the people the necessities of life at a margin un cost he will be better serving tha community than by devoting his time to bringing about the extinction of societies that have rendered snch incalculable benefits. What will be accomplished when statesmen are imbued with the same spirit of brotherhood as is possessed by those who control the destinies of friendly societies? , In conclusion, I would suggest to tha Hon. Mr Barr that in tie meantime be should endeavor to grapple with some jmkk blem with which he is bettor acjnainted, and when he has succeeded in giving tba people as good a shilling's worth as friendly societies offer it wiJl tnari be time enough to cjpresa such ungenerous and un-Brhash-like sentiments.—l am, etc., A. R. Lawkt, Prov. G. Master Otago District, October 3.