LODGE MEMBERS SEEK REFUND

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 6

LODGE MEMBERS SEEK REFUND

Payments Made By Medical Benefits AWAITING OPERATION OF ACT REQUEST TO BE MADE TO GOVERNMENT (United Press Association) ' AUCKLAND, March 21. A decision to ask the Government to refund to lodge members the social security levy of 1/- in the £1 between April 1 and the date upon which the medical and hospital provisions of the Act become operative was reached at the biennial conference of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows, at Auckland. Mr A. G. Shrimpton, the grand secretary, stated that members paid £2 8/- a year to their lodges for medical and related benefits. ’ The question whether they should pay the full 1/- in the £1 immediately the Act came into operation was one which had still to be settled with the Minister (the Hon. W. Nash). The conference authorized the preparation of legislation to deal with problems arising out of social security and decided to call a special meeting to consider such legislation.

Although the Dominion Council of Friendly Societies had received no information about the medical benefits under Section 3 of the Act, Mr Shrimpton expressed a personal opinion that if ever the issue between the Government and the British Medical Association was settled, a medical officer would receive about 15/- per capita per annum, which would mean, in a household of five, a total of £3 15/- yearly, whereas the present payment on the same basis was approximately £2 8/-. A suggestion had been received from the Minister that the machinery now available through the friendly societies should be used for the payment of sickness benefits to persons in households of friendly society members and for the payment of benefits in small centres where the establishment of an office of a department would be unwarranted. The Government recognized, stated the Minister, that the societies would have to be reimbursed for such a service. PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS It was reported that the Government had given no further indication about payments to hospital boards on behalf of members who may receive hospital benefits.

A suggestion was made that the medical benefits of the Act should be made to date from a time to correspond with the present lodge quarter. The position of the maternity allowance of £6 now being paid to friendly society members was discussed. Information was sought whether this would continue when the maternity benefit under the Act came into operation.

Mr G. C. Laws, district secretary, Hawke’s Bay, reported that he had been advised that the National Provident Fund would continue to honour claims until the Government scheme became operative. It was further stated that the Gov-

ernment scheme would make it optional for a member to take the benefit under the Social Security Act or through a lodge. If taken through the lodge the £3OO salary bar would operate, but this would not apply if the benefit was taken under the Social Security Act. A new rule was adopted to allow the society to co-operate wholeheartedly with the Government in the administration of the scheme.