HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2598, 21 October 1915, Page 3

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

e ' PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF RULES St. Patrick's Branch of the Hibernian Society met on Monday evening under tho presidency of Bro. J. P. M'Gowan, 8.P., at St. Patrick's Hall. There was a, large attendance of members, including the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., P.P., and Bro. G. J. Sellars, I'.D.P., Notices of motion tabled at a previous meeting were moved by Bro. L'. D. Hoskius. Under the existing rules, representative conferences of delegates of branches take place triennially. These meetings are movable, and are attended'by about SO deelgates. Tho amendment proposed makes these conferences annual,' and to reduce th'e expense of such conferences it is proposed to make fifteen sub-districts with the right to elect cne delegate for 500 members or less; over oOU members two delegates, but- no more. This reduces the representation from about 80 to 30, and it is claimed that a conforerico of that number, whilst less expensive, is capablo of legislating far better, as a large conference proves unwieldy, and experience teaches that at such , large meetings the principal work is relegated to a committee, whose deliberations . are generally agreed to by the remainder of the conference. It ii also claimed that the fact of holding annual conferences must of necessity dispose of legislation more expeditiously than triennial meetings, because in tho event of an annual conference postponing a measure to the nexfc meeting one year. only, elapses against if the .same condition - applied - under the existing rules. 'Other motions tabled practically provided the necessary machinery for sub-district.'meet-ings and the appointment of sub:district delegates Provision is also made for placing the office of district deputy on a better status and the abolition, of half-yearly district and branch meetings. A important motioii wasthat providing for the investment of the funeral fund in tho cities of Auckland, Christ-church, Dunedin, aiid, Wellington. At the present time somfething like £20,000 district funds, including the funeral fund, which is consolidated, is invested in freehold security in Auckland. Tho motion tabled last evening, provides tliat,. tin' the recommendation of the. senior branch' trustees in tiio ■ cities named, supported by the report of an independent valuer, the district trustees may advance money in tile four centres. The balance-sheet for September quarter and quarterly report was presented discussed. There aro now something like 200 members of the society in the firing line, aud already several have given tlieir. lives lighting for the Empires A roll of honour lias heen placed in the lodgeroom to remind members of their (fallen confreres. ' A motion of condolence with His Grace Archbishop Redwood in the loss he lias sustained through the death of his brother, Mr. C. Redwood, was carried by the members, in respectful silenco. Owing to the war it was decided to forego the celebration of the forty-first anniversary of the branch. Bros. J. J. L. Burke and B. D. Hoskins wero ap-' pointed to represent the society at the Conference of Friendly Societies dealing with the demands mado by the medical attendants for increased remuneration.