FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 12 April 1939, Page 7

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

“NOTHING TO FEAR FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ACT” OPINION OF GRAND MASTER i Unite,l Press Association? WANGANUI. 11th April. The opinion that by altering thenorganisations to meet changing social conditions the friendly societies of New Zealand had nothing to fear from the Social Security scheme was expressed by Bro. F. Rudkin. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Independent Order of Oddfellows, at a gathering in Aramoho to-night. ”1 wish to emphasise that as far as I have seen during my tour of the South Island and from what I have | seen in the North Island the 1.0.0. F. | does not admit that the day of friendly societies has passed.” said Mr Rudkin. During the past three years a lot has been said about the doom of friendly societies and a number of lodges have! 1 developed a fear complex. Our order j however, does not take that attitude. * iand I. personally, do not believe there: |is any truth in it. Records of the) ! friendly societies go too far back into! . | Anglo-Saxon democracy to be affected 1 ] by any change in the social system. We ; have adjusted ourselves to meet chang- : ing conditions in the past, and we can . |do so again, and move forward. J “In spite of talk of the adverse effect .; of the Social Security Act on friendly ] societies, the membership of the T.0.0.F. !! in 1937 showed a net gain over all losses j of 800; in 1938 the membership showed ,a net gain of 590. bringing the total membership up to 19.506.” Mr Rudkin said that on Ist January. 'l9Ol. after a big maritime strike and economic depression, the number of 1.0.0. F. lodges had fallen to 36. with a total membership of 2637: in the 38 years which had elapsed since the number of lodges had been increased to 237 and the membership of 19.506. “We should maintain our progress in the future, even if it is not at the same rate.” he added