HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 780, 1 April 1910, Page 2

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

IMPORTANT DEBATES, WILL THERE BE A SPLIT? EARNEST APPEAL FOR UNITY. Tho triennial movable meeting of delegates to tho New Zealand district of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was continued yesterday in St. Patrick's Hall. The Balance-sheet. On the previous day most of the items in the balance-sheet were traversed either by the president or in tho district officers'. report. ; The funeral fund showed a balance to credit of .£7795 2s. 2d., as against .£7438 10s. lOd. on July- 31 last, and the general fund increased its bolance from ,£529 7s. Od. to dEGSS lis. 2d. The guarantee fund had grown from .£361 10s. in July to £386 .on January 31. The value of assets over liabilities is set down at i!7GI, of which amount .£5lO 16S. 4d. is cash in bank aud £Xii 17s. lOd. a loan to the funeral fund. The balance-sheet showed that a cheque for: £10 18s. 9d. Jiad been remitted for the cost of . a stained-glass window for-tho Church of St. Gerard (Redcmptorist), Wellington. Delegates from all parts of both islands congratulated the executive on tho careful and economic management of the funds, which was largely responsible for tho strong position held by -the society to-day. It was stated •by one speaker that the Hibernian, Society was the most economically managed of all the benefit societies established in New Zealand. Father G'reogh, of the Redemptorist Order, thanked the conference for its kind references to his order. The stain-ed-glass window they had presented would be a constant reminder of their duty towards' Hibernianism. It was, howevei 1 , tho parish priests on whom the burden of the work fell—they were only missioners, but still would do all in their power to aid the order. The Rer. Father O'Connell; replying on behalf of the Marist Order, said that where-there were Hibernians there was a. good sound Catholic body, and he rejoiced at the cablegram sent to his Holiness the Pope as an action which showed their love and loyalty to the Mother Church. I

Matters of Finance. It was .resolved: — "When any blanch withdraws from a district to which it belongs for the purpose of forming a new district or joining another district, the district from which tho branch withdraws shall pay to the district which the branch joins its share of the Funeral Fund, after deducting from it all funeral allowances due and adding all moneys (considered good) to it at the date of secession. The value of members shall be ascertained by giving one share to each member and one sharo for every' five years that ht has been a member. A member shall mean a benefit member, male or female, on whoso account four quarters levy or more has been paid into the Funeral Fund, and who is not three quarters unftnanctal according to the branch return; and a widow contributing to the Funeral Fund for t£W at death shall for the pur- ' pose of the division of the Funeral Fund ; be computed to be a half-member at the date of secession. The exact date of tho secession shall mean the las'; day of March, June, September, or December in which the' three months' notice expires. ■ The district from'which the branon seceded shall settle all claims for funeral allowances arising iu the' new district, pending-adjustment of funds; the amount so paid to be deducted from their share due to the new district. In the event of a, dispute arising regarding the amount

Sayable or delay of payment, the now l istrict shall have the' power, at the ex- j piry of six months after date.of .seces- , sion, of referring the matter entirely or ! . in part for final settlement to the Eegis- ] 1 trar of Friendly Societies, who shall have j power to determine the amount payable, I . the date of payment, and award costs." ] A new rule, to bo embodied in the regu- . lations of the New Zealand District of ' the H.A.C.B.S.'s Mutual Fidelity Guar- ' antce Fund, was adopted as follows:— ] [■ "In the; event of any, branch .seceding ' from i this district for; the purpose of 1 forming a new district or joining another district this district shall to the new , district on account of such seceding i , branch the amount paid into the Mutual j ■ Fidelity Guarantee Fund with interest ] added.. Tho'said interest shall be com- i \ putcd' at i per cent.. per annum upon : '. the number of pounds, .sterling, com- \ ! prising payments and interest,-accumu- i lated at December 31 for each succeeding : ■ year." , < ' Investment of Sick Funds. Discussion, yesterday again turned upon • the following motion:— " j [ "That this meeting affirms the principle : of centralising the sick fund for the pnr- [ ■poses of making moneys lying idle inter- : est bearing, and instructs the' D.E. to . formulate rules in regard to same, and ■ submit them- for approval to a subse- > qhent meeting of the district." Bro. Doolan (Christchurch) said that he , did not approve 'of centralisation of ; branch funds, and branch officers should i have the management of their own funds. Bro. Kane,. D.S., in reply, said that it was a. great pity' that the question of ' centralisation of tho sick fund had not " been dealt with years ago. The first ; thing that centralisation ot tho sick fund would bring about would be that the . society as a whole would becomts- security l to tlio individual member, r The motion was carried by 31 votes to -20. Insurance Scheme; Approved. Bro. Kane, D.S. (Auckland), moved:— r "That any financial benefit member may on application to and furnishing his ' branch with a certificate of his good ' health and sound constitution from the branch medical attendant assure a. sum' • of .£SO at death in addition to his <£20 funeral allowance by paying quarterly in advance to the Funeral Fund through his branch according to his then age on ■ the following scale :-r- ,

In placing the proposal before the delegates, the distriot secretary said thai it was necessary to make sure, that any scheme adopted. was actuarially sound. The figures contained in the motion had been approved by' actuaries. Moreover, unless the scheme were sound, it would not be passed by tho Registrar of Friendly Societies. Bro. Pound (Invercargill) seconded the motion. Tho scheme, he said, had one special advantage, in that, it did away with the objectionable system of levies. Bro. J. \V. Callaghan (Wellington) said that he did not approve of the proposal to "turn the society into an insurance company." _ At present tho society offered sufficient benefits. The proposed innovation ■ was, in his opinion, quite unnecessary. There had beon complaint in tho past that insurance companies had trespassed, on the friendly societies domain by insuring against accident and even sickness. The society should not allow any such complaint to bo made against it. Bro. Hayward (Lecston) said that the society could not offer too many induce- • ments to young men to join. Too much was being made about the position of tho insurance companies. Delegates were bound to look after tho interests of the H.A.C.B.S. He heartily approved of the scheme, which ho considered should have been established years ago. An amendment was moved by Bro. Sellars, that tho words "the funeral fund" be deleted, and the words "a special fund" substituted. Tho amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Bro. Kane, D.S. (Auoklnnd), in reply, said that members who did not set great value upon the existing benefits would be induced to subscribe to this scheme. Dclogates would agree that this scheme was more thorough than any previously admitted,

Bcplying to the question of a delegate, < tho district secretary said that it was optional with candidates joining tho society whether they accepted this levy or not. Tho motion was carried, after further discussion. Future Conferences. Bro. Kane, D.S. (Auckland) moved: That each branch be allowed 10s. per day for one delegate only for tho time necessarily occupied in travelling to and from and attending this and subsequent triennial movable meetings. This was agreed to. A resolution'was agreed to th.lt the triennial movable meeting bo held in future on tho third Wednesday after. Easter. Bro. Callaghan (Wellington) moved: That in future every second year commencing with the third Wednesday after Easter, 1910, tho meeting shall be styled or known as the biennial movable meet : ing of tho New' Zealand District H.A.C.B.S. Bro. Sellars (Christchurch), in seconding the motion, said that there was likely to be a split in the camp. It was regrettable to know- that three districts 'were likely to be formed, in place of tho one solid district, existing at present'. He considered that meetings should be held annually, preferably in Wellington, because too much time elapsed at present, before matters could bo discussed. • Bro. Marlow (Dunedin) said that the frequency of tho meetings had been determined by the amount of funds available. Seeing that an extra tax had just been made upon the management fnud for the travelling expenses'of delegates, it would be wise to consider the business side of the matter, before deciding to hold tho meetings more frequently. The motion, was withdrawn. Unity—And Its Opponents. At this stage, Bro. Marlow (Dunedin) asked permission to speak regarding the threatened formation' of two or three different districts. He said that the Auckland branch had been originators of tho idea and it appeared from the remarks of Wellington.delegates that they intended to form a central district. There also- appeared to be reason to believe that the formation of a southern district was likely. But they were more than a benefit society, ho urged,.and one united district could do far more good than separate section?. (Applause.) The troubles • ahead were going to be worse than those of tho : past.- He called upon Hibornians to sink their little differences, and prevent its going forth that they had been unahle to agree in unity. The society was the only Catholic body which could 6peak with one mind from i . Auckland to tho Bluff. He would ask ( members to pause before taking a step I which they would regret later. He considered that they should remain in unity

&IUCIUU lIUH. Wiey SUUUIU leHlltlH 111 UJUiy for another three years at least, and then the (natter might be again brought forward. Bro. Duggan (Oaniaru) read a resolution approved by his branch in which they opposctl the proposal from Auckland that a southern district should be formed. " Bro. Sellars (Ohristchurch) supplementing the remarks of Bro. Marlow, said that it was not possible to have districts such as were in existence among the Oddfellows. There would be overlapping. It might he arranged that two "districts should be formed/''to be'divided by Cook Strait. He appealed to Hibernians, however, to maintain the integrity of the united society. (Applause.).■ - Bro. Callaghan (Wellington) said that he was voicing the opinion of all Wellington branches when he declared that, if division did come, the Auckland branch would bo responsible for it. Wellington branch, although having suffered defeat after defeat, had never once threatened to 'challenge the authority of the distriot executive at Auckland, or endeavoured to cause disruption. The statement had been made inv Auckland that if the pro-

posal to change the headquarters from Auckland to Wellington was brought for- : ward again, Wellington would be forced to establish a second district. . He greatly regretted that a split was imminent. As ; far . as.', material advantages were con- : cerned,..he had no doubt that Wellington i would get on all right by itself, but they had. to consider the prestige of the so- < cioty. ■ There-had been numerous proxies ' in the representation at the present con- i forence, and Wellington was getting to ' the end of its tether. "The feeling ex- 1 ists in Wellington," said Bro. Callaghan, ' "and it is also felt at the Hut bind-in ' other branches, that, sorry though we ' may _ be, a change is coming. We are ' convinced that there is only one thing Or us, and, that is, separation." "Little Differences." Father Holbrook (Auckland) said that he was- pained 'to confess that he had been prevailed upon to represent Auckland because of the expected discussion on the matter of separation. It was very regrettable that Catholic men could not have little differences and meet for the purposes of discussing them, without the world at large knowing that, although they were only a small body, they could not agree together. It meant that a noconfidence, motion was to be carried, as • far as the, district executive was concerned. He urged' that the secretaryshould be paid "a'decent salary," from £200 to -.£3OO a year, that he might go round the branches, look at the"' accounts, t and put things. in order. Bro. Kane.had the respect of»every member of the society and of every priest—(applause)—and they would like to see him visiting the branches and auditing the accounts. (Applause.) A delegate: Make him an organiser.. Father Holbrook expressed the opinion that if his suggestion were carreid but, Bro. Kane could double the membership of the society in twelve months' time. (Applause.) If the split came about, it would doubtless be seen in Auckland that they up north had been responsible for the rupture, and. probably the downfall, . <tf Hibernianism in their midst. He hoped that no future order paper would bear any item suggesting such an evil course as the division of the districts. (Applause.) Father Venning (Wellington) considered; that matters ; m'ight be patched up to a certain extent, The Auckland circular had been one of the causes of discontent. In September, he had been told by an Auckland member that secession was coining, and it struck him that it was strange that the head branch should cut itself off from the body of the society. The hints of division should never have been allowed to appear in print. He would suggest that, to. heal matters, a conference should be arranged between Auck- ■ land and Wellington members, before, the close of tho triennial meeting. Bro. Hayward (Christchurcn) said that it was a matter to be discussed in a businesslike way, if it were considered desirable that tho management of the society should be centralised. This would have come on in a proper manner had I it not been for the move taken by Auckland. There were five or six branches in his district who were prepared to establish a Southern district, and another halfdozen had expressed willingness to come in with them.- Was not that sufficient to show conclusively that there was unrest in the society He blamed Auckland for the whole troublo, and considered that the circular should never have been issued. /Applause.) He sincerely hoped that there would be no disruption. It was a direct "slap in the face" for the local branch that delegates had been brought from all parts to fill proxies. Were there not Wellington men. capj.ble of representing branches? Hero was evidence, he said, that there was distrust among Hiberians in the Dominion. Ho hoped that tho air would be cleared by this discussion, and that an organising secretary would be appointed without delay, as he had been suggested by Father Holbrook. At this stage the conference adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.

Age next birthday. Quarterly payments, s. d. 17 and under 20 ... ... 2 i. 20 „ 25 .„■ ... . 210 25 „ 30 ._ ... 3 4 30 „ • 35 ... ... 311 35 „ 40 ... ... 4 10 40 ,.15 '... -... 6 1 45 „ -50 .'. 7 8 " 50 „ 55. ... ... 9 8 55 „ .60 ... ... 12 5 , : J