THE FRIENDLY SOCIETY' CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1906, Page 4

THE FRIENDLY SOCIETY' CONFERENCE

SOME IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS, [by electric telegraph.] [feb pees 3 association.] WELLINGTON, May 22. The Friendly Societies' Conference spent i .a considerable timo on the discussion af Loasby's motion, proviumg that tho Act should be amended- so that no society could bo registered on certificate unless the table of contributions provided was adequate for the benefits offered. During the debate, a delegate said that in one district out of seven lodges four were unfinancial, and in another seven out of ten wero unfinancial, in another wore three lodges all unfinancial, while in another seventeen out of twenty-one were unfinancial. The motion was carried by 34 votes to 13. Tho Oddfellows of the Manchester Unity, American Constitution and British United, gave tho motion block votes. Tho National Order of Oddfellows voted—No. It was resolved that no society be allowed to carry on business without having an adequate scale of contributions commensurate with benefits proposed, and approved by a competent actuary, which scale of contributions shall not disturb the contributions of' existing members, out shall be brought into existence on a stated date. If was decided that tho Act be amended by extending the power of nominations to sums of not more than £IOO, instead of not more than £SO, and by adding Friendly Societies' dispensaries to the provident institutions, to which societies may subscribe under sub-section 12 of section 13. A motion was carried, giving small lodges power to send balances to their district authorities in order to get advantage of joint investment. Tho conference resolved that on the dissolution of a branch of tho registered Friendly Society, all moneys and properties shall be handed over to tho central body after claims and debts have been Paid. PREMIER'S REPLY TO FRIENDTA' SOCIETIES. WELLINGTON, This Day. At the Friendly Societies' Conference this morning letters were read, from the Premier relating to the National annuities scheme. Ile~(lclailcd the suggestions for the scheme in connection with the Friendly Society members, and also for persons outside societies. To take out deferred annuities with Government annuities beginning at such ages as 60, 65, and 70 by making deposits according ton certain scale, which will be specified in the schedule of a Pill to be brought down by the Government. These annuities will be. subsidised by" the Government, and will have the elicit of increasing the annuity by ten to forty per cent according to family and circumstances. Friendly Society members receive five per cent.