LODGE SICK PAY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 74, Issue 6365, 2 May 1947, Page 5

LODGE SICK PAY

QUESTION OF DEDUCTIONS Friendly societies will again press the Government to alter legislation so that sick pay allowances made by lodges will not be deducted when assessments are made to (members for pensions and other payments from the Social Security Fund. A remit from the Auckland Transport Club covering this move was supported unanimously after discussion at the conference of the Dominion Council of Friendly Societies held at Christchurch. “No one should be called on to pay for something which he does not receive. We pay for social security benefits, and are providing something for ourselves over and above that,” said Bro. S. M. Farrelly, who anjoved the adoption of the remit. The principle applied to invalidity pensions when the amount of lodge benefits was taken into account.

“My view is that it is a racket,” said Bro. C. Noakes, who seconded the motion. Bro. W. Greenslade stated that the matter should be pursued with all possible force. While he had every sympathy with the previous speakers, said Bro. J. T. Carr, he considered that some new argument should be '■resented, as the old case had been threshed out. The Social Security Act was the present Government’s “ baby,” and to press the matter further would be to flog a horse which was dead years ago, said Bro. J. L. Stewart. He said he did not think that friendly societies would get further concessions from, the present Government, because if legislation was enacted along the lines suggested it would open the way for alterations for other organisations. One member mentioned the practice of societies in which sick members drew only social security benefits and were given gifts of such things as 4

coal. “ This under-the-counter rule cannot be observed,” said the secretary (Bro. L. J. Retallick Y who said that officers of the Social Security Department were alive to the practice. Bro. Farrelly said that the Government should be advised that societies in New Zealand had about 84,000 members—quite a number of potential votes when their wives and families were considered—and that a de mand should be made that the societies get satisfaction on the question.