SOCIAL INSURANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 6

SOCIAL INSURANCE.

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

SOCIETIES AND STATE

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON.

IB? TELEGRArH.-rRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. ' The Friendly Societies' representatives to- ( day discussed with the Hon. J. A. Hanan, . Minister in charge of Friendly Societies, ( and the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister in charge of the National Provident Fund, the relations between the societies and the National Provident Fund. Mr. Hanan referred to the good work done by friendly societies, and said thai, ahca 1887 they had paid in sickness allowances £1,251,933, in death , allowances £237,680, and medical fees £1,162,105. The social insurance functions of the Dominion were officially directed towards the solution of the problem of ;.rovidmg for old age, for which policy the National Provi--1 dent Fund Act stood.* No society provide'! for this. The social insurance of the Government were not at present directed to provide the. benefits of friendly societies, as in Britain- Details of a new annuity scheme would be laid before the conference. The Government seriously desired to learn the societies' view of the problem. Extension of the provident fund j meant the extension of those thrift principles which t!& societies had done so much to foster, and ib should be the aim lof all to encourage, rather than retard, any movement in that direction. Mr. Myers placed stress on the importance of the national provident scheme and expressed the opinion that the conference would be of the utmost mutual benefit. Mr. Hanan was •■; rented chairman of the conference. The conference, in committee, considered annuity proposals submitted by Mr. Myers. . The delegates expressed a desire that the scope of the scheme be extended. Mr. Myers stated that he was prepared to consider favourably a proposal in the direction of providing some financial aid towards maternity benefits. i Fin illy, Iba idle-wing motion was car/ ried: —" Be 'Laving that the offer of & M.-ptnuaUitio? proposal bv the Minister is an ear-lent enrw.mr to grant a. measure of relief to friend)'y societies, this meeting accepts such. proprw%l on an optional basis, relying on the Minister's statement that the matter will have immediate attention."