239
MAJORITY REPORT.
558. There is one further matter in connexion with the Lascar
Fund which was not specifically raised before us in evidence, bub
to which we think it necessary to call attention. The Fund is
at present used to provide pensions to ex-seamen between the
ages of 65 and 70. Under the Widows’, Orphans’ and Old Age
Contributory Pensions Act, however, the State has now made
provision for old age pensions from the age of 65, and no con-
tribution towards the cost of these pensions is made by ship-
owners in respect of seamen not domiciled in the United King-
dom. On the other hand, under Section 64 (5) of the National
Health Insurance Act, the ordinary proportion of the cost of
pensions awarded out of the Tascar Fund is payable by the
State. We are not aware in what way the scheme of seamen’s
pensions will be amended on the coming into operation of old
age pensions at 65, but in any case we do not consider it a fair
and reasonable arrangement that, in the circumstances referred
to above, the HExchequer should be called upon to contribute
towards the cost of pensions and other benefits awarded out of
the Fund, and we recommend, therefore, that the State grant in
respect of such pensions and benefits should be withdrawn.
SECTION E.—VALUATION OF SOCIETIES AND
PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL BENEFITS.
VALUATION OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES.
559. Suggestions were made to us on behalf of the Ministry
of Health for the amendment of various statutory provisions
with regard to the valuation of Approved Societies. The first
of these related to what are ordinarily known as ‘* International
Societies.”
560. Section 83 (3) of the 1911 Act provided that Approved
Societies which operated in more than one part of the United
Kingdom were to be valued separately in respect of each country
in which members were resident. They were thus required to
be treated for accounting and valuation purposes as though the
members resident in each country formed a separate Society,
and this provision was applicable even to Societies with a wholly
unified administration centred in that country in which the
head office—or it might be the only office—was situated.
Section 16 of the 1913 Act repealed this provision, but conferred
upon members in countries other than that in which the head
office of the Society was situated an option to be exercised within
a limited period of six months whereby, if they so desired, they
might elect to continue to be separately valued. Section 3 (7)
of the 1918 Act renewed the option for a further period of six
months. At the same time an opportunity was also given to
the members resident in any country for which a separate
valuation had been retained to reverse their decision with the
consent of the central governing body of the Society.
