Friendly Societies Inquire

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 236, 6 October 1938, Page 4

Friendly Societies Inquire

Minister Says Lodges Are “ Commercialised ” WILL BENEFIT BY ACT; REFUSAL TO SAY HOW Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. Friendly Society members waited on the Minister in charge of Friendly Societies (Hon. W. Lee Martin) at Inglewood to-day to inquire as to the effect of the Social Security Act upon their institutions. The Minister claimed that social security would not affect the Friendly Societies detrimentally. * 1 Will you define exactly how the lodges will benefit under the social security scheme?” was a question putto the Minister. The Minister refused to answer the question and stated that if the lodge members wanted information they would have to get it from the Friendly Society delegates who met the Ministers of the Crown on the question. In reply to a statement that the societies would be unable to obtain members the Minister said lodges had become a commercial undertaking. Members joined for what they could get out of them. There was no possibility of friendly societies taking in all classes of people. They catered only for firstclass risks. The Government scheme would embrace everybody. The attitude taken up by certain sections of Friendly Societies in Kew Zealand was exactly the same as the opposition to the insurance scheme in Britain. There the result had been the reverse and the Friendly Societies had benefited. “We are not interfering with lodges but merely providing what the lodges cannot provide,” stated the Minister. A questioner: Is it right for you or any other Labour candidate to say that lodges will benefit? The Minister: Absolutely. Why should I not? Questioner: You do not even know what the benefits will be. The Minister: You can hold that view if you like. When you get the infor* mation from your lodge delegates you mil be satisfied.