The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 28.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 194, 28 May 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 28.

The address of Provincial Grand Master Leslie, delivered at the half-yearly meeting of the Otago District Committee of M.U.1.0.0.F., is of a most interesting character, and opens up some very important questions for the consideration, not only of members of that Order, but also all those who take an interest in the subject of the condition and prospects of Friendly Societies. As we pointed oiit in a former article, this question has an interest for every well-wisher of humanity, inasmuch as these Societies are engaged in a warfare with the demons of destitution and pauperism, and in promoting peace, concord, and charity. But the more interest we feel in the good work which these institutions aie doing, the more do we feel impelled to point out any shortcomings in the method of their working, which if unamended may imperil their stability, and produce ill effects which it may take generations to overcome. The greatest credit is due to the Manchester Unity for having grappled with the delicate subject of finance, for having gone to the expense of collecting a vast amount statistical information, and obtaining the best professional opinions thereupon. And this brings us to the first point which we would desire to impress on officers and others connected with there Societies—arid that is the absolute necessity of keeping strict and accurate accounts, und furnishing correct returns of all transactions in each Lodge or branch.

On this head Mr Leslie says:—" The return of sickness is not so fall sum 1 . accurate as it should be—iv some returns the total .sickness is not in accordance with tiie sick pay paid, and in several the ages of the b ; - L: brothers are not given. It has. therefore, not been possible to compile a return of sickness experience according to age. On comparison with our sickness expert-p.ee of former. years, .it will be fuiim! that a steady increase is taking place in our average . sickness, a result strictly in accordance with all tabulated experience. The returns of the Secretary give you full information respecting the sickness experienced during each of the three periods of sickness for which separate amounts arc paid, and nre worthy of your careful consideration, as you then' see clearly how cases of long continued sickness soon become in small Lodges a sever. , . strain on the funds." No doubt many Societies think the details asked for unnecessarily minute, and involving a great waste of labor. But all who understand the. basis on which these Societies are founded, are aware of the j strictest accuracy in all these matters being requisite. If it is desirable th,-;t their finance shall be anything more: than mere guesswork, it is necessary to have full statistical information in the matter of .sickhess at every a,:?c. It vrili be seen that, according to all exci.-vp-nci , . sickness increases with ;rn. Two inferences are deducibk- iw-in iiiis, \vh.i<-h till lately have, h'.vn very '■•'■h ignored. One jVtln j gross wait ofriqn?' y that- is involved hi , eqiial i-eti-tribufcioiis from members irrespective of the age at which they enter. Tili quite lately we believe that this practice has been universal, and the civdit <n haviug introduced a better ; b;-lt.-.ntrs k> the Manchester Unity. As yet, however, the new system has met with by m> means, universal adaption.

As sickness increases wtih age, societies must also remember that with every year of existence their prospective liabilities are increasing, while their future assets are not increasing in a corresponding ratio. That .iss that from members A, B, C ; &c, they cannot expect to receive auy more than the rate of contribution already agreed upon, while they mast expect to.have to make duibursements on account of the same members which will increase from year to year. Their' actual assets therefore ought to show a continual increase apart from that caused by any iucrease in the number oi' members. In fact they ought not to be satisfied without a periodical professional valuation of their assets and liabilities, in "which we of course include thn prospective liability inherent, in the contract between a society and its neonibfrs. Tho conclusion of the P.G.Ms, address is ;;s follows, and his words deserve the most

serious attention, not only of those to whom they are addressed, but also of all institutions having similar objects in view :—" One word more in conclusion. The question of financial reform will again be brought under your notice this evening, and I do trust one of the results of your deliberations on this subject (which cannot be finished at \his meeting) will be to cause a thorough investigation of our affairs as a district to be made ; and if on examination, Itis found—as I have reason to fear it will be—that our present rates of contributions are neither sufficient nor equitable, to devise such measures as will, not only make up for our shortcomings in the past, but secure financial! stability for the future. When-this end is attained—as I hope it will be before long—who can measure the amount of usefulness our society may be capable of accomplishing? Be it" ours' here;and now to do all that in us lies to advance the best interests of this noble institution towards perfection—

( We may not compass all we wish, Yet brothers let us try. , "