FIRST WEEK OF SICKNESS

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 12

FIRST WEEK OF SICKNESS

Friendly Society’s Scheme ADDITIONAL BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 22. A proposal was brought forward by the Wellington district at the biennial conference of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows that a scale should be prepared for providing £2 a week for males and £1 a week for females for the first week of any sickness or any part of that week. The plan aims at providing something additional for a member while he is awaiting benefit under the Social Security Act, which does not provide for the first week of sickness, and at making the members’ position the same as it will be in the second and subsequent weeks, this being in the case of a male £1 from his lodge and £1 from the Social Security Fund from the second week. Thirteen per cent, of the total sickness, it was stated, was experienced in the first week and it would appear that an additional quarterly contribution of 1/- at the age of 16 to 3/- at the age of 45 was necessary. An actuary advised that a scheme of this nature should be viewed with great caution, but it was considered by the conference that the directors of the society should have a table prepared. This decision was reached owing to excessive sickness experienced in lodges. It was decided that a certificate should be furnished from a medical officer fortnightly instead of monthly as at present. This is to be made mandatory on all lodges, special provision being already in existence for exempting members under special known circumstances.

The conference decided again to request the Government to restore the payment made before the depression to friendly societies for making the annual returns required under the Friendly Societies Act. It was decided to investigate the position relative to the occupation of aviators and the contingent risk entailed, and the directors were empowered to make provision in the scale of contributions to meet extra risk if such is considered necessary.