FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9101, 25 May 1906, Page 5

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE.

[PEESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, May 24. The Colonial Conference of Friendly Societies gave consideration this after1 noon to c the letter reoeivedi,from the Brei mier on the subject of national annuities. i Bro. Salek (Wanganui) said he would like to know why Friendly Societies should >be ■offered a refund and tuTned-into'charit^^Le I institutions. They were independent in [ every way, and if they accepted anything at all they would be amenable to the Golvernment. Other societies encouraged thrift. The insurance companies did so by insuring for a giv«n^j,mount at a certain age, and he would like to know whether^ the v Government would dare to mlake a similar offer 'to. such an institution. societies consisted of men who had bound themselves together for mutual help. They had never asked the Government for monetary assistance; and he failed to see why they should/ be offered a sliding scale of refunds. The societies wanted no assistance from the Governments or any other body in t the, colony. „ , Bro. Everett (Nelson) "said the application of this scheme would enable them to take in the infirm, whom, under present circumstances, the societies had to reject. Bro. HaTvey (Otago) was of opinion that the Premier's idea Was to encourage thrift. After further discussion, Bro Loasby moved an amendment, which was carried, Expressing, .the view, that 'before ' a decidied opinion could be expressed on the scheme, the bill authorising Tefunds to societies should be before the societies.