THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1896.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10620, 16 March 1896, Page 2

THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1896.

No question in friendly society finance is of greater importance than that of the proper relation of the contributions paid to the benefits promised in return. If the payments by the members be only slightly below the standard fixed by actuarial calculation, then by very careful investment of their funds, so that every pound shall gain more than the interest reckoned Upon in the actuarial scale, Some societies have been able in the past to Counterbalance the inadequacy of their contributions and even show an appreciable surplus. But in those societies where a great discrepancy exists between the contributions required from the members and the benefits assured, neither careful management nor high rates of interest are sufficient to make good the loss arising from the low scale of payments. The report presented to Parliament, annually by the Kegistrar of Friendly Societies discloses the. fact that there are, unfortunately for the members who place tliei? trust in them, many of the latter class operating in this colony. Some of these have made efforts to retrieve their position by increasing their rates slightly; but such increase, which is generally inade-., quate, affects hew members only. With an increasing deficiency shown by each succeeding valuation, these societies are only able to exist by the influx of young members,Vho In future must either use the same method or heavily tax themselves to supply the funds required to pay their own benefits. We are aware that there are intelligent members in each of these societies who Unhesitatingly admit the unfairness of conducting their business in this way, but the voting power lies in the hands Or members, who, when any reform is urged which is likely to touch their own pockets, refuse. their consent, falling back upon the stock arguments that,they have made a contract to pay so much and no more, and get certain benefits in return • that the funds will last out their day; that the aotuaries do not know anything about it, &c. " ■

Again, assuming the society agreed upon the desirability of placing their ficale of contributions on a solvent basis, another difficulty presents itself in the fact that by doing so they will jjrobably cease to make new members so long as they'have to compete with other bodies who promise the same, or eVengreater, benefits ata lower I'ate of Eayment." From the renort of- the

special meeting o£ the Otago District, JVLU.I.O.O.SV. which recently appeared in oUf columns, it ■would appear that . this:<aspect of the question had much to do in influencing the delegates in the decision then arrived at. They had been called together to consider the question of adopting a uniform scale of benefits and contributions for the order throughout the colony. Four scales were placed before them, each being certified as ample to provide the benefits promised, arid, 'while varying in their rates, they agreed in requiring much higher payments to be made, in proportion than those at present ruling in this I part of the colony at least. Eeeling | that the adoption under present circumj stances of any of the scales would seriously militate against future accession to their membership, they refrained from making any recommendation in that^direction. Several speakers urged that before any change was made the Friendly Societies Act should be Amended so as to make it compulsory that all societies should work under certified scales of contributions. Such an amendment of r the Act . would heartily commend itself, we believe, td all who have the welfare of these great pi'Dvident institutions, the friendly societies of the colony, at heart. The provisions of the amending Act would require lo be • very cai'efully drawn, so that, while giving ample power to the registrar to make them effective, the bodies affected should also have the greatest liberty to work out their own salvation. If this were done, there would be no occasion for the old cry of "no Government interference." This would be legislation on the lines of safety and true progress, and should have the cordial co-operation of every member who desired to see his society placed upon a Sound footing.

, It is to be feared that a large number of those who join our friendly societies trouble themselves little about the ability to pay the benefits promised, and if they do think about it the fact that a society is registered under the Act is looked upon as a kind of " hall mark" as to its stability. Of course, there is nothing in the Act to 'justify this delusion, and the members who entertain it very often discover when called upon to pay increased rates that " registration" and financial solvency have not necessarily any connection. That there ought to be such a connection, however, cannot be denied. The necessity for it has been brought before the Government of the day more than once—notably when, three years ago, the officers •of the- Grand Lodge, 1.0.0. F., waited upon the Government and urged that steps should be taken to compel societies to adopt adequate scales. Mr Mason, the Kegistr&r of Friendly Societies, who for years opposed any decisive measure being taken, has latterly seen fit to.alter his opinion, and in his more recent reports admits that' compulsion is advisable in some cases.

There would be nothing new in such legislation, as the Friendly Societies Act of New South Wales, which was modelled on the lines of the English Act, has contained like provisions for the past twenty years, as also has the Victorian Act since 1891. Under section 6 of the New South Wales Act all friendly societies must be registered, under a penalty of .£2o', to be imposed on each member of the Management Committee; and seetiori 7 provides that it shall hot be lawful for the registrar to grant a certificate of registration to any society assuring to its members annuities, superannuation, sick, or funeral benefits unless the tables for such objects have been certified by an actuary, These provisions appear to be sufficiently stringent, but unfortunately the Act did not affect societies or ruled already registered in the colony, and this defect, coupled with the fact that branches do not require to be separately registered, was fatal <to any improvement. In Victoria the certificate of an actuary must accompany any amendment of rules; and when the report of a valuer or actuary states that the assets of a society are insufficient to meet its liabilities, the Government Statist is empowered to point out the cause, nature, and extent of such deficiency, and also the necessary changes which should be made in the benefits or rate of contributions to place the society's finances on a sound footing. Upon receiving this notification it is the duty of the society to make the changes indicated; but should it allow six months to go, by without doing so, it then becomes the duty of the Statist to publish such deficiency, with such comments as lie may deem advisable, in any manner and as often as he thinks the circumstances of the case call for, until the desired alterations are made.

In drafting an amendment to our own Act, it should be easy to avoid the defects which have be.en found to exist in those of New South Wales and Victoria ; and past experience will easily suggest further improvements. That such an amendment would have the support of a considerable numbpr of our members of Parliament we are assured, a correspondence with that object in view having been, we understand) initiated during last session by Mr IlfiiD, the Grand Secretary of the 1.0.0. F., and the replies received being largely in the affirmative. It only remains for the various societies interested to show that they recognise the desirability of such an amending Act to have it placed upon the Statute Book.

Ths Monowai, with Bnglith mails up to February 22, left S»n Francisco on the 7th inst., two days late. The Alameda, with the colonial mails of February 22, reached San Francisco on the 12th inst., her due date.

The Colonial Treasurer (the Hon. J. Q. Ward) left Dunedin for Invsrcargill by tho express train on Saturday morning, having apparently changed his mind about remaining in Dunedin for a few days.

The civil sittinga of the Supreme Court will commence before his Honor Mr Juetioe Williams this morning.

, Mr Paulin telephoned at 7.30 last erening :— " Strong to light N.E. to S.B. winds and fine for about 16 hours; barometer fall; indications very unsettled."

Intimation has been received in town tbat the Very Rev. Dean Fitcbett is lying seriously ill at Cairo. It will be remembered that the dean left Dunedin on December 15 for a trip to tha Home oountry. The news of the rev. gentleman's ill-health was reooivod under date of February 3.

At the Pott Chalmers Polioa Oourt on Saturday afternoon, before Meesis J. R. Monson and J. MorgaD, J.P.s, John Duhig, one of the crew of the Rimutnka, was oharged with Using obscene language towards Francis Buohannn, • the ohief officer. After heaving the evidence, accused was sentenced to SOVfitt days' imprisonment with Jtuud labour.

A foreigner named Yon der Medan was admitted to the hospital on Saturday suffering from a fracture of thejeg neartho ankle. The injury was sustained by a fall near the Polichot Bay Railway Station. ■

In the course of a brief interview with Mr Bobbins, one of the Government dairy experts, he expressed his belief to a member of onr staff that the course which he believed was being adopted by the cheese factories of holding back their produce with the view of selling locally or in Australia, was not without its dabgars. Mr Bobbins believes that nine out of 10 of the factories are co holding back. No doubt rather more Will ba sold in Australia this season than is usual, but he believes that the cheese made after the Ist April will more than supply that demand. Up to the date mentioned, and possibly up to the middle of April, the cheese should be shipped to the United Kingdom. The opinion of Mr Bobbins should be of value to directors and managers of dairy factories, and his note o£ warning may prove of service to them.

Bishop Nevill, in preaching at the cathedral yesterday morning, took occasion to draw from the character and policy of the patriarch Joseph in Egypt come salutary lessons for modern politicians. After referring to the singular wisdom and foresight which characterised the provision mode by Joseph for the years of famine, and to the remits of that proVision, which lasted even to tho time of Solomon, and which produced results ftnd influences the relics of which remain in Palestine to the present day, the bishop went oh to say that tho motive which influenced the patriarch Joseph was tho sense of responsibility and of a divine miseion — which made him plan and legislate not for himself, but for the people as a whole; not for tb.3 present only, bat for the future. The preacher then went on to show that the came spirit actuated the greatest statesmen of EDgland—instancing Chatham, Pitt, and Edmund Burke, —and emphasised as the thing most needful for politicians of ths present day that they should nob aim at class legislation, which panders to the tastes of one section of a community and, aiming at benefiting a class only, proves eventually detrimental to the entire State, and, therefore, to the class in whose interests it was devised. He earnestly advised those present interested in politics to look beyond tho interests of the next election, and to emulate the example of the patriarch Joseph, who, by his Ee!f-oaorificing, provident, and large-hearted policy, becjine a father to his sovereign and to his people.

There was a shore sitting of the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr I. Selby, J.P. Henry Price, for being drunk in George streot on Friday, was fined 10s, in default seven days' imprisonment, and for using obscene language on the same occasion he was sentenced to U days' imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent. For drunkenness Charles Price and Annie Smith were each fined 10i, in default 48 hours' imprisonment); while a first offender was fined ss, in default 2i hours' imprisonment.

The Twanaki Herald of Tuesday last publishes the following paragraph:—" A report has gained currency during the laofc few dayß that the Defence department intend to enrol a firet-clas3 militia, which will bs composed of all unmarried men between the ages of 17 and 35 years. Inquiries mada from thoae who should know support the report, and it is evident that the Government intend to make the beat prevision they can for defence in the event of a, European war breaking out and spreading its operations to tho colonies."

The Oamaru Mail otates that certain serious statements having been made reflecting on the management of the Governmeat Printing Office* the Government propo3a to set up a commission to inquire into the matter, and hava asked Dr Giles, of Auckland, and Messrs Hogg, M.H.R., and George Jones, M.L.0., to constitute that commission, which will probably sit within a fsiv days.

At the inquest on the body of the young man George Peacock, who committed suioide near Mastertou, nothing was elicited as to why ha left Christchurch for the North Island. His father, in giving evidence, said his son came home from work as usual on the 2nd inst. Ha went out after tea, bub raturned at 8 p.m. and went to his bedroom. He returned to the kitchen in about 10 minutes, and went out, his family seeing or hearing nothing further of him till the father identified tuo body'in the morguo at Masterfcon. The young man w*s walking out with a young woman, but they had no quarrel On the night he left his home the young man appeared to ha cheerful, and, so far as was known, had expressed no dissatisfaction and had shown no symptoms of despondency.

The Southland Times states that within the past month or two the mysterious disease that killed quite a number of horse 3in the neighbourhood Of Winton soms years ago has broken out with fre3h virulence, and the area over which animals are affected has been considerably extended. One of tho symptoms is a strong impulse to go forward, the poor brutes pushing through fences and hedges, oblivious of the injuries received. It is believed the ragwort, ragweed, or bindweed, & coarse weed common about Winton, is tha cause of tho disease.

Professor Loisatte, of Naw Sork, who visited this colony last year and returned to America via Jspsn, arriving at San Francisco on the 21st January, died at the Pakcs Hotel there on the 4th February. His death was rather^ sudden. He was attended by a physician during his last hours. The dead man had *a national reputation. He was tha originator oE Loisette's system of cultivating tha memory, and for nearly 15 years his teachings were quite a craze in New York.

There was a fair attendance at the Ptiooesa Theati-e on Saturday night, when Professor Davis, assisted by Madatno Stella Davis, gave another of his remarkably clover psrformancoo. He commenced to entertain his audience by allowing them a number of sleight-of-hand tricko, all of whioh were so neatly and skilfully executed as to defy detection. His cabinet seance, which waa subsequently given, completely mystified everybody, the " ruatarialisltion"of tha spooks b3lng a wonderful revelation of "whnt can be done by a perfect mauter-in the ait of trickery* Professor Davis also created a considerable amount" of amusement by his ventriloquial powers, while Madame Stella Davis excited much wonder by the ready way in which she answered questions written by the audience on pieces of papar, although apparently ehe bed never seen the questions. In one instance she stated that something on one of the papers was written in shorthand—a faot whioh wa3 acknowledged by the writer, —but she was unable to make out the meaning of the shorthand characters. Professor and Madame Davis perform at the same place for a few more nights ( and every evening the programme is varied to some extent by the introduction of new features.

At her concert on Wednesday night at the Garrison Hall, Mdlle. Antoinette Treballi will contribute four pieces to the programme—viz.: The recitative and grand aria, "Ah, fora c lvi" (" La Trftviata," Verdi), " Caritu " (Tito Mattel), "Dear bird of winter" (Qanz), aud the favourite Scotch ballad " Coruin' thro' the rye." Mr Arthur Salvini will sing tho recitative and aria from Verdi's " I Lombardi," entitled "La mia letitaia," " Thou art so near and yet so fat " (Roiohardt), and, by spooisl request, "My queen" (Blumeuthal). The remaining items will be found in the programme published to-day.

The usual St. Patriok's Night concarl will be given in the Garrison Hall to-morrow evening, and as it will bo a holiday night and a very largo number of tickets have bsen sold already a crowded honso is almost » foregone conoliluion. The programme arranged is an attractive one. A Btrong orchestra will give selections of national music, tho convent pupils will ,fiive a pianoforte duet for eight hands, and songs will bo rendered by Mrs J. H. Coombs, Misa Kitty Blaney, Mr Burnn-Walker, and Mr W. F. Young.

The Trilby Specialty Variety and Burlesque Company have booked tho City Hall for the Easter dates. Thay are to arrive 6t tho Bluff from Melbonrno ou tlie 31st iust., and will probably play throe nights at Invercatgill, and will open in Dnnedin on Batter Saturday, April 4. The company in said to comprise somo of tho leading artists from Melbourne and Sydnoy.

Messrs DonoJd Eaid and Co. soH HTOiu and produce to-day. ~ i

Tho Mutual Agoncy Cdmpany will sell grain and produce to-d»y, and on the 19th inst. they sell flock and stud rams at Eurmiide. Messrs Dalger.y and Co. sell Shropshire Down mmc at Burnside on 19th inst. Mr D. M. Speddmg will sell fencing wire toMr 15 P. Burbury, on bohalf of New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Oamaru, will sell draught horses and hacks for Mr John Reid at Elderslie on 26th inst. The Port Chalmers Borough Council intimate that it is intended to strike the usual general and special rates. The certificates of the Londoa Science and Art department pained by Dunedin students will be presented on Wednesday evening. The funeral of T. B. Lack will now take placa on Tuesdity Instead of to-day, as ha.d been pre* viously announced. Professor Bickerton, of Christehurch, profeasof of chemistry and Colonial analyst, tays Loasby's "WahdO" is pui'«ly herbal. Sufferers from indigestion unanimously vote it the only specific remedy for that trouble. 2s Gd ; all chemists and grocers.—Advt. John llisi.oi', Watchmaker ami Jeweller, 74 Prinee3 street. Tho nUlost eatahlia'ied house in town. Repdirs of all kinds. Good assortniont Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit all sights.—[Anvr.]. Carter and Co are now making their' first autumn show. Large shipment just arrived ex Aorangi. Novelties in all departments. Prices strictly moderate. See Carter's windows.—Advt. In Moli.tson and Co.'s ndvertisemeut it Will be noticed that their flret display of this season's autumn and winter goods will be on Tuesday, 10th March, and followim; days. Lady customers are specially invited.—Advt. Buyers of Boots would do well to rctne'nber that SraoN BkOtukiis, George ot.rest, are making special reductions this week.—Advt. Messrs Kibd and Co., surgical and mechanical dentists, notify that thoyhavecommenced business opposite Cargul's Monument, Princes st.—{Advt. MbasisA. and J. M'ifAßi.AMiheg to call attention to their advertisement over the leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive the best attention.—rA.nvr.l

Xmas and New Year Presents,—Three shipments opeueA this month, Stock full in all departments with latest noveltioa.— G. and T. Young, direct importers, 88 Princes street.—Advt.

Who is Peter Dick ?—The most reliable Watchmaker, Moray place, Dunedin (opp. Coffee Palace). Watches cleaned, 53 ; mainsprings, 43 (id.—Advt.

Wendei/s pure grape wines may be had from Mercer Bros., D. Booth, Wilsons, C. B. Millsr, Peterson, and Carolin, grocers.—Advt.