SICK BENEFITS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 37

SICK BENEFITS.

GOVERNMENT RAILWAY SCHEME.

HASTINGS, April 17. The biennial conference of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was continued this morning, when a discussion took place on the proposed Government railway sick benefit scheme. The matter was referred to in the grand master’s report, and it was explained that the board of directors had carefully investigated the question from all angles. The chief objection to the proposal was that the contribution provided in the scheme was totally inadequate for the benefits stated. According to the information possessed by the society, it would appear that an annual deficit of £BOOO is expected in the functioning of the fund. This would necessitate the granting of a subsidy of this amount from the State purse. The principles embodied in the scheme were in direct violation of the Government requirements in the registration and certification of similar funds controlled by friendly societies. The board was of opinion that the trangression by the Government of legislative enactments by the introduction of financially unsound sick benefit schemes in the Dominion would result in destroying the confidence of friendly society members warranted by the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act. A protest was immediately forwarded to the Prime Minister directing his attention to the promise he had given in the House regarding sick benefits schemes. The election of officers and directors for the ensuing two years resulted as follows:—

Grand master, Bro. F, Pritchard. P.D.G.M. (Ashburton) ; deputy grand master, Bro. H. S. M. Quigley, P;D.G.M. (Hawke’s Bay); grand secretary, Bro. A. G-. Shrimpton, P.G.M. (Nelson); grand treasurer, Bro. G. Read, P.D.G.M. (Wellington) ; auditor, Bro. E. W. Yellow; grand trustees, Bros. W. H. Madeley, P.D.G.M. (Wellington), and W. I. Clark, P.D.G.M. (Wellington); directors —Bros. T. J. Archbold (North Canterbury), P. M. Smith (Wellington), C. H. Ambridge (Auckland), C. W. Bell (Ashley), J 7 W. Watt (Ashburton), and W. M'Millan (Auckland). The question of again approaching tho Government advocating the adoption of the cheque system for friendly societies through the Post Office Savings Bank was voiced by the conference, and the incoming board of directors was in* structed to consider the matter at tha earliest possible moment. . ;