OLD-AGE PENSIONS: MALINGERING IN FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In the letter on this subject from Mr. W. A. Fox in he Spectator of June 24th, he states "that malingering is no light evil, but a heavy burden on all the societies alike, any secretary will testify." I shall be glad if you will allow me to refute this statement so far as the National Deposit Friendly Society is concerned. The Society was established in the year 1868, has five hundred branches, with a member.
ship of over forty thousand, and in no one year has the average sickness exceeded four days per member. Since its establishment the sick and medical claims have annually con- sumed of each is. paid to the common sick fund in thirteen years, 2d. ; thirteen years, 3d.; five years, 4d. The latter amount was expended in the influenza years ; but in 1897 it was 2d. in the is., and last year 3d. Daring the last ten years the amount contributed to the common sick fund was £163,156, the whole of which could have been paid away for sick and medical claims ; but only £42,197 was so spent, leaving a balance of £120,959. These figures are, I think, sufficient to prove that malingering in this Society is an un- known quantity. At present our members receive, on reaching seventy years of age, half their weekly sick-pay, so long as they can find one-fourth of it from their own deposit. If the Government would relieve the Society of this responsibility at seventy-five years of age, I think there is no doubt that all the members would be able to provide their share of the allowance up to that age.—I am, Sir, &c., FREDK. LITCHFIELD, General Secretary. National Deposit Friendly Society, 11 Bed Lion Square.
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