SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1939, Page 4

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

EFFECT ON FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

[PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, February 26

Apprehension over the outcome of the Social Security Act in its effects on. friendly societies was expressed, and the statement that there had been a. substatnia] decrease in new members while young members were taking up "the wait and see" attitude, was made by the Grand-Master (Bro. A. W. Stackhouse) in his address to the fifty-ninth annual conference of the Ashley District, M.U., 1.0.0. F., at Rangiora, yesterday. "It did not come as a? surprise that the authorities have found it impossible to operate the sections of the Social Security Act that affect so closely the friendly societies from the announced date of April 1,” he said. "However, we have the assurance of the Prime Minister that the whole of the provisions of the measure will be brought into force- at as early a date a.s possible. We arc much in the dark about the extent to which the act will affect the societies; but our experience since the scheme came prominently before the public must cause us to be apprehensive to the ultimate outcome.”

Figures would be submitted by the committee of management, he said, which were both illuminating and disquieting, showing, as they did. that there had been a. substantial decrease in new members and a considerable increase in the numbers struck off because of arrears of contributions.

' "Wo have ample evidence that many young members are taking up a. ‘wait and see’ attitude, and as they are. influenced by the tax on their wages and the attractive. State- promises we may lose them,” lie added. Young men, he said, were showing little disposition to join the friendly societies, in fact the case was very much the reverse, and without being charged with being pessimistic he would say that lite position could not be viewed without some misgiving about the future.

Tlic mnnagemeni conind:tee. in repcris. also re'-'e;, «.-d io what was conj idere<! the baneful c’Tec-t of the Social Security Act on t.he membership of the lodges. In the .’.ear (he aggregate Imii.H'c-r of new immhcrs admitted by i ini' was only 62. compared v, itli I 131 in 1937, ami the number struck off | for airears in cem:rilmtions ;l nd for resignations was 53, compared with 21. Losses by death and clearances to other districts reduced membership -to IIS2. compared with 1699 at the start of (he year, represenl ing a. net loss of 517 members, compared with a gain of 72 in the previous year. "We can hardly view this result with, equanimity and it behoves us to take every opportunity to impress on! our members and prospective mem-| 1-ei s. the advantages that conmiction | with :i, friendly society presents com [ pared with what the Social Security Act promises.” the commit tee report cent inued.