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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, TRADE-UNIONS, AND INCORPORATED SOCIETIES. THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1910.

Presented to l>oth Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, Section 9, and the Trade-unions Act, 1908, Section 16.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies to the Right Hon. the Minister of Finance. Sir,— I have the honour to submit herewith, in accordance with the Act. the annual report of this office for tin , year ended 31st December, L9lO. I have, &c., Robt. E. Hayes, Registrar Friendly Societies and Incorporated Societies. Wellington, 30th June, 1911. NATIONAL PROVIDENCE. The inauguration of the National Provident Fund, in terms of the Act of last session, marks a notable step forward in social legislation towards universal provision for sickness, invalidity, and old-age. The scheme, which is on the voluntary basis, came into operation on the Ist March, 1911, and its liberal benefits must prove attractive to people of small means, particularly those who are not members of friendly societies. The fund does not provide for immediate sickness, medical attendance, or a lump sum at death, the three highly-prized friendly society benefits ; on the other hand, the provision for superannuation at age sixty, and on a contributory basis, will be welcome to a large body of workers, while the ample allowances for maternity and for children indicate the State's recognition of the responsibilities inseparable from the preservation and nurture of its future citizens. The introduction of a provident scheme to compulsorily insure workers against sickness and unemployment in Great Britain has created widespread interest, and, as the measure is to be worked, so far as it directly touches the individual, almost wholly through the friendly societies, it is of importance to discuss the changes that will take place in the present constitution of these organizations should the Bill become law. The apprehensions of friendly-society leaders that the scheme might ignore their work have not been realized, and the most enthusiastic supporter of the efficiency of the administration of these societies must be satisfied with the British Government's official appreciation of their value as a democratic and economic method of carrying on this particular line of social work. The following description of the British proposals is compiled from official sources : — BRITISH NATIONAL SCHEME. Persons included. Compulsory Contributors. —The compulsorily insured are termed " employed contributors," and comprise all manual workers, including domestic servants, but not workers whose labour is of the most casual description—such, for instance, as street-porters, &c. Clerical and similar workers at fixed remuneration exceeding £160 per annum are excluded from the compulsory section.

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