ODDFELLOWS AT ODDS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 6

ODDFELLOWS AT ODDS

LODGE SECEDES \ SUPREME COURT ACTION tex Telegraili -Erese AaeoclatlouJ

: ''?'*■};-:>'••■ •'•''.-"•■ Auckland, July 24. .-;■- The 'secession of Loyal fountain of [Friendship Lodge :froni'the New Zea- ■ land, Branch of. ,the Manchester Unity of'-Oddfellows is now occupying the attention of 'the- Auckland Supreme Court, : a . dispute '■ having- arisen /as . to. tho cmouiit'payable:by the wealthy Auckland lodge-before it can be allowed to : withdraw from tho parent liody. The -, matter-:'came, before .His.; Honour Mr. .'Justice:Hosking, in Chambers to-day, ,':in_aii a'otion brought by the Loyal Fountain.:.of} Friendship Lodge '■ against the New. Zealand; and; ,' : JJnder, .the rules, of the .New Zealand ; Branchfthe amount payable by, the seceding .branch , has to , he ascertained by ■an actuary. The'rules also; Idefine tho inaterials.and the methods-.to-• be employed .by ;tlie actuary. . The: action .".claims: .that,.'the actuary employed was not appointed' according to tho rules, appointment should have becu concurred in by the plaintiff lodge; furthermore, "it vis. claimed that the procedure by ( wiich tho actuary arrived at his assessment has been, based-upon wrong principles, and it is also claimed that he has not conformed to the rule requiring him/if;he desired any inforto■ apply;;to the '. plaintiff lodge' The summonses mentioned to-day asked the' Court t.o. niakbTa declaratory'decree to : the 'effecfrrrin : 'the curiously■' cohtradic.tory'languagej/of- thp.'law-7-that theiac-•;countarit-was';]iot|ai)poiuted,-:and if he ' .was, -.the ■ have been eupplied, with information, as to the jmethods lie adopted. The Court was'also "asKe'd-'-'tot declare tho.'principles ■which should have' guided the actuary •in coming to his conclusion with regard to the amount'to. be paid. ' This, it was statediiiv Courtj had been assessed /tot. the large figure of £24,000. ; ; .'.-■ Mr.; M'Gregor, appearing in support' ■'<>f. a motion that tho Auckland District ■ Branch' he struck out, as defendants asked for an'adjournment.'.'

jA ■■'■"' Mr- M'Veagh, who appeared (\vith f . I Mr. Ziman) for the Fountain'of'F-riend-|Vv- ship Lodge,-'did hot: object'to the adj journment, :but "suggested that an affii-. . davit should be filed by the actuary i, .as to -hoWrvlie'. arrived at the. amount.

of money duo by the lodgo to the New Zealand Blanch

■ His Hononr' : pointed out that that jv-•j- might be the very thing .Mr..M'Gre- [■.'■.: -gor's clients did not want to [;■' rj.thoijgh'.it-inighf possibly lead to the ■7 i-settling of the action.' . '•.'. V: f j Mr. M'Veagh. agreed that, such a j-':..'.. course:,might go ;a..lpng way:towaTds j. Settlement'.and \the Judge observed ["-j-jihatit;.dia ; seem a pity for a: friendly i ; :jsooiety-;to:-waste funds, wliich were for i. : |sickness and.death benefits, on. legal |:.:,. : disputes , .- '.'.,,,;. ....'• !;.:'■-.'.'. ■Mγ. M'Gregoj said ;that-Mr. Justice F.I Cooper ..had'j.expr'es'sed; a- similar:•' view,. i; : '-. j but .pointed out that' he could not con- ;:■ \ sent' ! 'tp''Buch'-'a"c'oui , se without hi !instructions!; .;;',"■ -.•■■■*•• ■ ■;' .' ....

{■:■■ :■ The Honi^j.(.j4:.'-'-Tole'.''-appe»ririg. - 't6 i; /jfeupport a •.summons.' applying to strike i; , jout tlie';'name.;of'the accountant' as !.■ ; ■ defendant,", pointed out that., his client' V !.'•:'contended'lih'at ■Hβ ..was. merely .-appoint-, _'■; ' I ed, scix>rding;.',to^Statute,; and .should I. J N iiot'>-Do;"ina'cle-a iparty' to any. dispute. F : ... ■'■■• After further: discussion,;- the-whole i of tho. summonses -were adjourned. It j';V .will b©_! remembered that,'; the Loyal I v^'Fountain of IVjendship Lodge, tlie lari. igest, oldest,'' and richest lodge" in ' tho ! district,. .seceded. at the end

■ '.of*,}ask''year,', in;consequence -of■ a■ re--i - • ■ f solutioh being, approved by; the District r ■.'■. 'Comriuttee'.which. had'for its object'the [•:-."'' of the whole otthe sick ;.;.:" the;district.- At the annual; district meeting in Febru-. : . nry, tlie principle of.-'consolidation', was ' confirmed,, and the:: /proceedings were : '• marked>by heated..'diecussion between I' tho rpresentativcs.bf the'seceding lodge I". .' olid the other! deputies. -.'-.,