ODDFELLOWSHIP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 137, 27 February 1918, Page 4

ODDFELLOWSHIP

WELLINGTON DISTRICT CONFERENCE

THE GROWTH OF THE ORDER The annual conference of the Wellington District of Oddfellows, M.U., was commenced in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lambton Quay, yesterday afternoon, The officers present were: —G.M., Bro. A. C. Holms (presiding); D.G.M., Bro. W. I. Clark; secretary, Bro. Goo. E. Goclher; treasurer, Bro. T. S. Powell.

Tho deputies present were:—Britannia Lodge, P.P.G.M.'s Bros. T. Powell. W. H. iMadely, P.G. T. Palmer, and P.G., J. H. Kraft; Antipodean Lodge, P.G.M. Bros. John Smith, P.G. 0. Daley, P.G. A. Guise; lioso of The Valley, P.G. Bro. Zambia; Hose of Sharon, P.G. Bro. T. ALilligan; Unity Lodge, P.G. Bro. M. B. 'fait; Combination, P.G Bro. R. Boulcl; Heart of Oak Lodge, P.G. Bro. C. J. Do Lacoyj.lfasterton Lodge, P.G. Bin J. Lanjffoy and C.S. Bro. A. Rippon; Groytowu' Lodge, P.G.M. Bro. D P. Loa'sby; Petone. Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. llidcklobank;«Ekeuiliuna Lodge, P.G. Bio. A. Rowden, Martinborongh Lodge, P.G. Bro. Iv. Reetiberg; 'Victoria Diamond Lodge, P.G. Bro. Astridgo; Newtown Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. lbbotson; Kilbirnie Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. Wylie; St. AVallis Lodge, P.G. Sister White.

P.P.G.M. Bro. Alf.. IVrrin was appointed Tyler, and P.G. Brb. C. .1, Do Lacey was appointed Press representative for the meeting.

Lodges St. George and Mangatainoka were fined in accordance with the rules for not sending a deputy, unless a satisfactory explanation was received.

Tile G.M. of the New Zealand Bianch, Bro. I. Salek, and the C.S. of the society, Bro. J. Kershaw, who were present, were invited to take a scat of honour at the conference.

Lodge honours were conferred on the G.M. of the New Zealand branch and the C.S. of the society, also P.G. Bro. A. Murray and P.P.W. Bro. Smith. All brothers returned thanks for the welcome .accorded them.

The following' resolution was reaffirmed, and unanimously carried:—"That this conference of the Wellington, District, Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, extends to the large body of fellow-brethren absent on active seivice hearty fraternal greetings. AVe rejoice Lhat the representatives of this district are truly linked in the bonds of friendship, love, and truth, wiih an army of 150,0-00 Oddfellows so worthily upholding the honour of the Empire aid the Order, and' fervently hopes that the cause of the Allies will soon bo triumphant. Further, endeavouring to in some measure express appreciation of their groat ' sacrifice* we pledge ourselves to continue protecting the • rights and privileges of membpys of the Order serving. their King and country." Grand Master's Address, _ In the course of his annual address tiie Grand Master said that it was their privilege to assemble under the auspices of a pioneer New Zealand lodge— the Loyal Britannia Lodge having been established on February 19, 1843. Members of other lodges would join with him in offering • hearty congratulations to the senior lodge on its splendid record of sorvice in the cause of Oddfellowship. It was noteworthy that the Wellington District was constituted in 1845, and occupied the proud position of being only second to use other in New Zealand.' A decade since the district had seventeen lodges with :i membership of 1987, to-day it' had eighteen . lodges—Lodge Kilbi'rnie being the junior—with 2150 members. During the same period the New Zealand" branch' 'had progressed ' 'from.. a membership of 10,540 to a total of ,14,967 (1916 figures). "I share with you,'' said the Grand Master,--"tliG' regret occasioned by the continuance of the world-wide war, and with all deeply concerned in ridding the world of the Prussian menace and the determination as to seeing it through. AVe have every reason to believe that the unity of the nation will remain unimpaired and that the great struggle will only terminate when the principles for which we are striving liave been "vindicated. Jn this titanic effort Manchester Unity is the possesor of an army approximating 200,000 brethren, who, following in the footsteps of those who have fallen, are giving practical .effect to the teachings of om order, and signifying their willingness to make the supreme sacrifice. Courage is needful if the Empire and Allied nations are to triumph, but imbued with the spirit of confidence still dominant among the nations upholding the cause of liberty and justice—and having put our hand to the plough there must bo no looking back —I feel confident that members of our Order will not be found wanting at the time of testing. (Applause.) Our chief concern as a district is in solving the difficulties incidental to making adequate provision for meeting the obligations entered into as to the advance of sick pay to soldier brethren, in addition to keeping them good on the lodge hook's, and this district has strongly opposed any'form of discontinuance, even as a temporary expedient. I expect that you will earnestly endeavour to evolve a scheme to give effect to our desires, having in view the likelihood of the B.M.C. substantially modifying the existing provisions. 'Stand fast, AVelliiigton'l' 'could well bo adopted as our slogan,and acting in harmony with the resolution passed at our lust conference and reaffirmed to-day a lead—one which I. estimate can be financed on a levy of Is. per quarter—wi l ! be given lo the New Zealand branch, whieh has had good reason to be proud of its effort* on behalf of its soldier members, standing pre-eminent among New Zealand friendly societies.

"The Unity War Relief Fund provides for lodges being reimbursed with half of soldier members' sick and funeral contributions, but lull niunngeiiient and distress levies (lodges paying benefits to those who pay their full contributions), the levy necessitated being' }d. per week. Our mission siiouid be to formulate a schemo to meet the demands, of the occasion. I am hopeful that the branch will remedy the anomaly as to only reimbursing lodges for soldiers' sick pay advanced since January 1, 1916, but whilst contemplating the removal of one anomaly another is likely to be created by the projxiscd discontinuance of sick pay to soldiers. Whilst in our district the sick and funeral funds have grown during the period from December 31, 1914, to December 31, 19115, from £07,294 Bs. 9d. to £84,240 lis. 3d., tho management funds have been reduced, the figures being £lu'(s7 2s. 6d. and £1358 18s. Bd. respectively. On this, score, however, no complaint has been made. During the same period tho sick and funeral funds of the society continued to grow at the average ratio, allowing for the secession of the fountain of Friendship Lodge. "Several lodges have for some time past been collecting individual levies lor war and other special purposes, and have built up a fund from which calls can bo mado without causing embarrassment, a course which should prove a very wise one, obviating the sudden imposition of a heavy levy. I have arrived at the conclusion that all war levies lodges' are called upon to pay, as well as other special levies, should provide for the exclusion of soldier-mem-bers, and that any schemo fixed upon a percentage basis of funds or contributions should bo inclusive of appropriations or reductions. ''I would draw the attention of lodge representatives to the •matter of being watchful as to seeing that members include their _ lodge contributions _ in claims for assistance from the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board. Although

War Loiin investments do not, in my opinion, offer an advantage to .small investors conesponding with those who gain income-tax concessions, it is pleasing to find that, lodges have contributed in a good measure towards several loan flotations. On patriotic grounds it might well ba urged that returned soldiers honourably discharged be. admitted as members, and possibly this matter will engage the attention ol the socioty. The Unity occupies first place among friendly societies as lo adult membership, but third as far as the juvenile aspect is concerned. Our present experience strengthens uiy opinion that juvenile lodges should be encouraged, and it is a matter for great regret that the Wellington Lodgeis no longer in existence." The Grand Master also made brief reference to the benefits of the National Provident Maternity Benefit Provision for Friendly vSocieties; and to tho holding of the B.M.C. in AVelliiigt<m at Easter, and, in retiring, hoped that he would leave behind an imprcs* sion akin to the favourable one gained during his four years' association •with the management of the Wpllington District. (Applause.)

The sentiments of tho address were applauded throughout. It was resolved that the* Grand Master he thanked for his able address and that th» aamt! bo printed in the mimitcs of tho conference.

It was resolved: "That the action of the Management Committee of this district be endorsed in getting the Wellington district made an approved society provisionally under the Finance Act'." • The report and balance-sheet as submitted to the meeting were read and adopted. Next Conference. It was decided to hold the next conference of tho Wellington district at Greytown. The conference decided that the holding of tho purple and past officers' lectures and degrees bo left to tho District Management Committee to deal with. At 5.45 p.m. the conference adjourned until 9.30 this morning. REUNION OF DELEGATES. Following upon the adjournment of the Wellington District of Oddfellows, M.TJi, at 6 p.m., the visiting delegates were the guests of Loyal Britannia Lodge at a dinner held in the Burlington. The usual loyal toast was honoured, followed by "The New Zealand Branch," proposed by J'.l'.G.M. Bro. A. J. Ibhotson, responded to by the C.S. of the society, Bro. John Kershaw; "The Wellington District" a'.G.M. Bro. D.P.Loasby-Prov.G.M. lira. A. C. Holms); and\ "Loyal Britannia Lodge" (.P.G.M. Bro. John Smith-P.P.G.M. Bro. W. Madeley). Bro. Ibbotson, in his speech, paid a high compliment to the officers past and present of the Now Zealand branch, which stood in the forefront of friendly societies. Incidentally, he mentioned that nearly two thousand members had offered their services to ■their King and country. P.G.M. Bro. Loasby complimented the district on its seventy-three years of progress and work on behalf of Oddfellowship, remarking that they had been fortunate in having men of ability and enthusiasm guiding its destinies. Ho specially complimented the G.M. and Bro. G. E. Godber.

Replying, Bio. Holms referred to the f<v;t that the Order had a notable record in its contribution towards the man-power of the Allied Forces— »200,000 from the whole Order of one and a half million members. Tho Now Zealand branch contributed 1750 from 14,000 members, .and the Wellington district 350 from a total of 2000. The New Zealand friendly societies, .with 70,(100 members, were represented on '.active service by fully 7000-of their number.

Bro. John Smith briefly traversed the early history of Britannia, Lodge. Established in ISI3, it was the pioneer of tiio Wellington district, and second only to Nelson as far as New Zealand was concerned. It was now the largest lodge in the and claimed a splendid record as to numerical and financial advancement, as well as promoting the welfare of the Order. After the dinner a theatre party was arranged. '

BIENNIAL MOVABLE COMMITTEE

IN WELLINGTON AT EASTER

. It is sixteen years since the Biennial Movable Committee of Oddfellows, M.U., met in Wellington. Consequently the gathering of eclcgates from all parts of New \Zealand in Wellingtou at Easter <will be an event of no small importance to friendly societies circles. The delegates, to the number of about forty, will assemble in Wellington on the Saturday preceding Easter Day. and that evening they, with their wives, will be entertained at supper at tho Kelburn Kiosk. On Easter Sunday afternoon an excursion to the Zoo at Newtown Park, with afternoon tea in the Kiosk, has been scheduled. The conference proper will open- at 9 a.m. on Easter Monday, under the presidency of the Grand Master, Mr. 1. Salek, of Wellington. On Monday evening delegates and their wives will attend the performance at the Grand Opera House. On Tuesday the committee will sit the whole day, and during the evening. AVednesday has been set aparjt for'a little seaside relaxation at Day's Bay, but will bo a session in the evening. On Thursday tho committee will sit all day, and it is hoped that tho business will be brought to a conclusion that evening On the Tuesdav afternoon the ladies who are visiting AVellington in connection with the conference will be entertained by Mrs. Salok at her residence on the Terrace.