HEALTH INSURANCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3842, 4 December 1936, Page 7

HEALTH INSURANCE

ON NATIONAL BASIS. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ VIEWS. The desire of the friendly societies to co-operate with the Government in the proposed national health insurance scheme was expressed by speakers at the largo and representative gathering of members of the M.U., 1.0.0. F. held at Morrinsville last Saturday. It was made clear that while friendly society members realised that such a scheme was inevitable and highly desirable, they considered that the Government would be well advised to profit by the experience ot the friendly societies and seek their advice. There were 103,000 friendly society members in New Zealand, and including their dependants there were 300,000 New Zealanders interested in tho friendly society movement, said Ero. W. McMillan, of Auckland, who it: Deputy Grand Master of the M.U., 1.0.0. F. for New Zealand. If the Government brought in a national health insurance scheme it could not do so without regard to the interests of these 300,000 people. "I hope you will not lose any opportunity of advancing the claims of the friendly societies whenever you are speaking to your M.P.,” said Bro. F. Smith, of Auckland, a New Zealand director of the order. “Members of friendly societies have nothing to fear, but they should make themselves heard,” said Bro. J. A. Allan, ot Auckland, another director, in urging that the friendly society movement should be invited by the Government to assist in formulating ahd administering any national health insurance scheme. “You have to see that your funds are not frittered away and that you do not lose your identity,” said Bro. S. D. Eade, of Takapuna, Auckland District Grand Master of the order, in explaining that friendly society members should watch with interest the development of the Government’s national health insurance scheme. "I am in favour of a national health insurance scheme, but I want to see that the Government runs it the same as tho friendly societies run their schemes, on an actuarial basis.