MANCHESTER UNITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 779, 31 March 1910, Page 2

MANCHESTER UNITY.

THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT, PBOPOSED AMENDMENT, (By TelezraDn.-Press ABSoclatlon.l Napier, March 30. The meeting of the Biennial Moveable Committee of the New Zealand branch' of the .Manchester Unity Oddfellows wag continued to-day. '■' It was resolved that the coming intooperation of. tho Central Funeral Fund be left in the hands of the Grand Master and Board of Directors, and that they have power to alter, or add to, any rules as may be suggested by the registrar.. ' It was resolved, "That the Manchestee Unity of the Independent Order of Odd-' fellows, New Zealand-branch, desires to place on record an expression of its ex. ■' treme regret and disappointment at the deletion of Clauses 15 and 16 of thai Friendly, Societies Consolidation Bill,! 1908; that it trusts tie Government-will,! in response-to the request of a :very! largely preponderating majority of< the' , Friendly Societies of the Dominion,-take: an early opportunity of introducing an/ amendment of the; Friendly Act , by incorporating the principles of Groses--15 and 16, as being eminently desirable ■ in order to promote the usefulness and ; stability of .Friendly Societies,' and to prevent, organisations which are -making no pretensions to financial solvency undertaking obligations-which. actuarial ex-! penence has amply demonstrated cannot' but prove disastrous 'to their memberships and consequently injurious to Friendbr Societies generally." .-,' . ■■ .. —' It was resolved that the scheme for increased funeral benefit, -with : a table of contributions to be supplied to the Grand Master and Board o! Directors by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, be approved. ... •■■■-,- A remit from the Wellington districtwas, moved as follows:—"That this meeting is favourable to the establishment of a Central Sick Fund, and'recommends , the Grand Master and Board of Director! ' to. bring forward a scheme for establishing such a fund in: connection with, the New Zealand branch." As an amendment it'was moved, "That it \be ' a. recommendation to the Grand Mister and Board ;of Directors to have a report made by an actuary on the question, of spread- • ing the liability for sickness so that each ' lodge shall pay the average experience of sickness in tho New Zealand', branch as • ascertained by: the quinijneimial. valua- : tion, the proportion of sickness claims which have been paid by .lodges above or below such averages to be collected'from, or distributed to, such lodges by the New Zealand branch, while leaving the sic! funds in the control of the respective lodges." The amendment was carriedunanimously. . •'..:. ■' ■'■•■ ■:-•■ The next meeting was fixed to be held ' on Easter Monday (April 8), 1912. : Attention was drawn to Sub-section 9 of Section 3 of the Consolidated , Friendly : Societies Act, which provides that when - any money. is invested on mortgage or other security. over land the amount so invested shall not exceed three-fifths of ■ the unimproved value, of the land, to- • gcther with one-half of the value of im-. proyements, thereon; and it was resolved, "That a protest be entered against the clause as interfering with;the investment : of lodge funds, and.that aat least two-: thirds of the value of freehold property, be the basis of: investment." '■ ■■■ ■: '. . - . It was resolved, "That the attention of _ the Grand : Master and Board of Direct. tors be drawn to the proposals • of. the '•. Government re the National Sick, and: Accident Insurance Bill, and that.;.they ' be asked to .take such action, either • jointly with other Friendly Societies or. -, independently, as*the board may.de-.: cide. . -~ • . ■. ■ ■■..•'■•-. .-... It was decided, to request the- several ' districts to suitably celebrate the centen-;' ary of the Order. The election of-officers resulted as follows—Grand Master, Bro. C. H. Bellringer'(New Plymouth); deputy. Grand Master, Bro. John Clark (Auckland); corresponding secretary, Bro. Kershaw. (re- , : elected); treasurer, Bro. G. E. Godfrey (re-elected); auditor, 8r0...T. S. Poweft (re-elected); directors, Bros. F. Moore, A. N. Batchelor, J. B. Fielder, ,D. P.. Loasby'i G. W.- Sellars,. and John. Smith'; : parliamentary agent, Bro. Kershaw'.; An invitation, from Ashley district to--hold the next biennial meetuig in Christ* church.was accepted. ... ■'.'.'■■:>' The meeting has concluded. '