MANCHESTER UNITY ODDFELLOWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 10

MANCHESTER UNITY ODDFELLOWS.

The biennial Movcable Conference of Manchester Unity Oddfellows will be opened in Chrislelnirch on Easter Monday, Mr. John Clark, Grand Master, presiding. The officers and deputies from Wellington are Mr. John Smith (Acting Mayor), director; Jlr. J. Kershaw, secretary; delegates, Messrs. G. K Godbsr, A. J." Ibbotson, 0. D. Robertson, C. P. Brockelbauk, and D. V. Loasby.

Sonic very important proposals are to be considered, viz., the question of abolishing the probationary period before new entrants are entitled to sick benefit, and to make the sick benefit immediate. To consider the advisablensss of centralising or consolidating the funds, with a view to spreading the liability for sickness over the whole of tho society, instead of each lodge being liablo for the sick benefits of its own members as at present. At the meeting held (wo years ago it was resolved to centralise the funeral funds, and this has been carried into effect, and it is considered by the incmbsrs of some of the districts that it is advisable to make a further advance, believing that it will tend to the spread of the societies' interests, especially in sparsely populated districts where the law of average would act detrimenrallv to small lodges, but if the liability is placed on tho ronlrnl body intending mVml>?r« would realise (hat tho whole strength of tli" sicifcty i= behind (he lodge. It is expected there will 1;« a large attendance at '.lie nifctiiiK, and the brethren in the southern district:- have made great preparation for the reception and entertaining of the officers and delegates.