LODGES AND THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23665, 27 August 1940, Page 6

LODGES AND THE WAR

MILITARY AGE BAR TO HEW MEMBERS FINANCIAL LIABILITIES TOO GREAT Lodges throughout New Zealand are using their own discretion as to whether or not they will admit men of military ago to their memberships, it is understood from inquiries made, but in tbe majority of cases such men will not bo accepted. One of the biggest lodges has, profiting by its experience during tho last war, passed a rule that such men will not be admitted to its membership, but in other cases this lias not been done, it merely having been placed on record on the books that the men are not eligible. Finance is tho principal reason for this step, and due consideration will reveal that it would be imposing too much of a liability upon tho lodges to expect them to pay out funeral and sickness benefits to now members of military age, if required. Naturally, those already in the lodges will have access to these benefits as usual. During the last war, by mutual cooperation between tbe friendly societies and tho Government, a re-insnrance scheme, at much lower rates than the ordinary insurance companies could provide, was inaugurated, in which the friendly societies paid half the premiums, and the Government the remainder. In the case of a surplus (which there was) it was divided among tho societies. It is understood that ,sonie move on similar lines was made by the friendly societies this time, but the Government would not assist with the scheme.

Tho reason for one lodge in particular going to the extreme of passing a rule on the subject of men of military age not being admitted to membership was that it had carried on the sickness and death benefits*during 1914-18, and the financial burden had been almost overpowering. It had been considered in some cases that there should be a. “ loading ” on lodge dues in lino with the policy adopted bv the insurance companies, tho ‘ Star'’ was told, but apparently tliis too bad involved too great work for lodge secretaries in keeping the data up to date, and nothing came of Members of lodges who were in them before tho war began are, as has previously been intimated, having their membership dues paid by the respective bodies in most cases.