SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 13 March 1939, Page 14

SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

EFFECT ON LODGES MEETING NEW CONDITIONS MAX< U 1 EST ER UNITY VIEW The opinion that no advantage would be gained by a discussion of the social security scheme at present, and that as the Manchester Unity had adjusted itself in the past 100 years to the advance of social legislation it should again hold its place in the changed order, were expressed at the Auckland district conference of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. The subject was introduced by Mr. J. Mackay, who said he considered no decision should be made in the meantime. A circular from the grand secretary of the order, Mr. A. G. Shrimpton, who is also Parliamentary agent and secretary to the United Friendly Societies, pointed out that ample advice would be given to friendly societies before the sections of the national health scheme affecting the societies became operative. The Dominion council of the order had to be consulted again before final arrangements were made, Mr. Mackay said, and it should be left entirely to the Dominion conference to arrange with the Government the important phases of the scheme. Members should remain faithful to their lodges and they would lose nothing and have everything'to gain. Mr. F. Smith said the biennial movable conference, to be held this month, would draft special amendments to the rules to meet the altered conditions. "The trend of modern thought is toward social insurance and New Zealand is only falling into Line,* 2 said Mr. J. E. Allan, a director of the order. "Friendly societies will hold their place in the changed order as in the past. It is up to us to amend our benefits to attract new members who will pay into the funds, and we must give other benefits to take the place of those taken over by the Government's scheme."