HEALTH INSURANCE

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1789, 7 December 1936, Page 3

HEALTH INSURANCE

ON NATIONAL BASIS Friendly Societies’ Views The desire of the friendly societies to co-operate with the Government in the proposed national health insurance scheme was expressed by speakers at the large and representative gathering of members of the M.U. 1.0.0. F. held at Morrinsville on Saturday. ' It was made clear that while friendly society members realised that such a scheme was inevitable and highly desirable, they considered that the Government would be well advised to profit by the experience of the friendly societies and seek their advice. .:

There were 103,000 friendly society members in New Zealand', and including their dependants there were 300,000 New Zealanders interested in the friendly society movement, said Bro. W. McMillan, of Auckland, who is Deputy - Grand Master of the M.U.1.0.0.F. for New Zealand. If the Government brought in a national health insurance scheme it could not do so without regard to the interests of these 300,000 people.

“ I hope you will not lose any opportunity of advancing the claims of the friendly societies whenever you are speaking to your M.P.,” said Bro. F. Smith, of Auckland, a New Zealand director ol the order.

“ Members of friendly societies have nothing to fear, but they should make themselves heard,”’ ; said Bro, J. fE. Allan, of Auckland,; another director, in urging that the friendly society movement shoiiH be invited by the Government to assist in for.i • '•' <s , .. **• • -• —■»!*• •*. ■ ;V mulatirig and ' administering any national health insurance scheme.

“ You . haye to see that your, funds are, not frittered away and that you do not lose your identity,” said Bro. S. D. Eade, of Takapuna, Auckland District Grand Master of the ordei t in explaining that friendly society members should watch with interest the development of . the Government’s national health insurance scheme. “I am in favour of a national health insurance scheme, but I want to see that the Government runs it the same as the friendly societies rim their schemes, on an acturial basis.”