MEDICAL BENEFIT FEES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 7

MEDICAL BENEFIT FEES

LODGE URGES REFUND ODDFELLOWS' REQUEST (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The contention that friendly society members should be exempt from the payment of medical benefits under the Social Security Act until those benefits came into operation was strongly urged by speakers at the Manchester Unity Oddfellows' conference to-day. "If the Government recognises that the lodges include one-fifth of the population, it should recognise also that a large number of people meanwhile are covered by medical benefits," said Mr. G. C. Laws, Hawke's Bay. Mr. A. G. Shrimpton, Dominion secretary, said that members paid £2 8s yearly to lodges for medical and related benefits. The question whether they should pay the full shilling in the pound immediately the social security scheme operated still had to be settled with the Minister of Social Security, the Hon. W. Nash. A resolution was carried expressing a whole-hearted desire to co-operate with the Government and asking for the fullest information. It was decided to request a refund from the Government to lodge members of tne amounts paid to lodges for medical benefits. The report of the grand trustee showed that at December, 1938, £IGG,812 v/as held by the society on mortgage. The following officers have so far been elected; Grand master, Mr. N. B. Bellringer, Taranaki district; deputy grand master, N. J. McKay, Hawke's Bay; directors, Messrs. W. B. Brown, P.D.G.M., Wellington; J. A. Ivory, P.D.G.M., Ashley; J. E. Allan, F. A. Smith. Auckland; G. Wilson, Wanganui; and A. Gow, P.D.G.M., I North Canterbury.