ODDFELLOWS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 166, 3 April 1918, Page 6

ODDFELLOWS CONFER

SECOND DAY'S DELIBERATIONS BENEFITS TO OVERSEAS SOLDIERS TO BE CONTINUED The biennial movable conference of S l6 -ir^ e, T Zealand branch of u the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows' Fuendly Society was contined in the Oddfellows' Hall yesterday, under the presidency of the Grand Master, Mr. I. Salek, of Wellington. , • Various i emits proposing to amend rules were considered. A remit was earned from Wellington to make the treasurer a society officer. The conference rejected a-remit from North Canterbury to baso the representation from districts to society members on 1000 instead of 500 members as at present, as was also a remit from North Canterbury that the B.M.C. should bp held alternately in Wellington and Christchutch. It was pointed out that the practice of holding the conference at widely different places as at present was of considerable, educational value. It was docided not to entertain a proposal from North Canterbury that the sum of £200 of the society's money should remain on deposit in the North Canterbury district for the purpose of paying the funeral ilaims of looses in the district. Proposed Consolidation. There was a lengthy discussion when the following remit from the united Westland district was considered: "That the time has arrived when all benelit funds of our society should be consolidated." The mover, Bro. J. Steele, Prov. C.S., said that tho proposal was before the B.M.C. at Wanaanui four years ago, when it was riot favourably entertained. The war, howover, had shown how close and inseparable were the interests of all of them, and the matter should not bo regarded from the district point of view only. A definite decision should be come to by all districts, with the object of having a unanimous vote, even though thp f result was not arrived at for son time. Not one logical argument ha been advanced against the proposa Tho scale of benefits was calculated o the average sickness of all friendly s< cieties, but that average could not ol tain in small lodges, and tho speake submitted that it would be better 1 spread the risk over the society as whole. The Independent Order of od< fellows (New Zealand) had consolidate its funds, and was in a better positio per member than the Manchestc Unity. The latter society was fightin against the law of average, and mm go under if the present policy, whic tended to destroy the brotherly feeling was persisted in. The motion was seconded by Bro. A G. Shrimpton, Prov? C.S. (Nelson). According to Bro. Sharman (Wango rrui), when tho proposal was oarrie unanimously Wanganui ■would fall int line, but before that members require to be educated on the subject. An amendment was moved by Bro. J M'Leod, P.G.M.. (Auckland) to the en that all district benefit funds be cor solidated. If it were not for consolido tion, many of the lodges in the Audi land district would have had to clos owing to the financial obligations in posed by the war. Consolidation h» proved to be the salvation of the coun try since the war began, and if it aj plied to the State it applied also to th society, * In seconding the amendment, Brc F. A. Smith, P.P.G.M. "(Auckland) held that the opposition 'to con6olida tion generally came from the lodge that were wealthy. _ After two years experience of consolidation the Auck land district would rot go back to the old system on any consideration. Bro. D. P. Loasby, P.G.M. (Wellington), warned the conference agains f forcing the proposal, and he suggestec that the conference' recommend thi ' several districts to take the subjee of consolidation of sick arid funera funds into consideration. This proposal was accepted by Bro M'Leod, and it was accordingly substi tuted for the amendment. After further discussion the mover Bro. Steele, withdrew the motion, an< tho amendment was then put and car ried by a large majority. Soldier Members' Benefits. . An important remit was tabled oi behalf of the Auckland branch whet Past Grand Master M'Leod, of Auck land, moved: —"Members on active ser vico shall not be entitled to sick paj for wounds or sickness incurred wliih on active service. Such members shall however, bo entitled to sick pay at from tho date of their discharge froir the naval or military forces of the Empire." In explaining the attitude of Auckland', Bro. M'Leod said that no district was more in favour of carrying the whole of the burdens of our soldier boys than the northern branch. Unfortunately, like the Kaiser, they had miscalculated the duration of the war. They had thought that it would be but a short affair. Consequently if they intended to pay sick benefits to soldier members while on active service they must be prepared to properly carry that burden. No provision had* been made for carrying this obligation. The position was unfair to both soldier members andi other members if the society's funds were depleted in tho present manner. . While _on overseas service soldier members did not require financial assistance from the lodge, and if the principle of making these payments were continued the funds of the society would be so heavily encroached upon that they would not be able to meet their engagements with regard to non-military sick members. Nor would they be able to fulfil their obligations to the soldiers The time to deal with the soldier members.was when they returned home and became merged into the civilian population. Many returned yoldiors would doubtless be on the -ick fund for life, and tho society should therefore husband its resources against their homecoming. As showing the seriousness of the situtaion, the speaker said that over 700 members of the Auckland branch were at the front, and of these 115 had already been killed and 198 wounded.

In seconding; the remit, Bro. TV. PL, Macey, P.P.G.M. (Marlborough), intimated that tho Marlborough branch had forwarded a remit of a similar nature. If soldier members wore to continue to receive sick benefits while overseas it would become a most serious charge on the lodges in his district. It was explained by Bro. J. Kershaw, corresponding secretary, that even if the remit were carried all claims up to January 26 last would, according to the rules, have to bo paid. Bro. H. E. Morgan, P.P.G.M. (North Canterbury), said that his branch strongly opposed the remit and desired to vigorously support the present system without increasing the levies. It would be a wrong thing to turn the soldier members down. The society was still making money, and was it not the wealthiest and most influential Order in_ New Zealand? Let it affirm the principle first and find the means after. No Sacrifice Too Crcat, The remit was also condemned by Pro. A. J. Ibbotsou, P.P.G.M. (Wellington), who contended that no sacrifice 'was too great for the men who were daily laying down their lives "for U6 who sit hero in comfort." They had

forth in good faith to give their all for their country, and what was'the society going to do for them? Thero could be only one answer: "We are going," he contended, "to back them up, and we are going to be their supporters. They are not here to answer for themselves." The speaker proceeded to show that the Wellington district was able to stand the strain for some considerable time if it were necessary. If the fund was not sufficient, were those who remained in Xe.v Zealand not hers to put their hands in their pockets? (Hear, hear.) It was not only the duty of the society to provide for the soldiers overseas. It was their privilege. (Applause.) As an amendment it was moved by Bro. A. 0. Holms (Wellington), and seconded: "That in the event of a Government actuarial investigation showing to the satisfaction of the Board'of Directors that the strain upon the funds was too great, that the Board of Directors be empowered to create an expeditionary members' sick fund." In supporting the remit, Bro. F. W. Watt (Asbhurton), Deputy Grand Master, warned the conference of the danger of being swayed by sentiment to the neglect of the practical aspects of the question. Plenty of members'would doubtless contribute £10 a year without missing it, but in the rank and tile there were numerous members who could not afford 10s. per annum. If a levy were struck it would handicap tho society in its future competition for members. > Bro. J Kershaw, C.S.- (Wellington), also deplored tho introduction of so much sentiment, which tended to make those speakers not supporting the payment to soldiers while overseas feel that t.hey were of the boys at the front. It was no such thing. Was not the support of soldiers at the front a matter for the State? As a matter of fact, the Defence Department had recognised that it was responsible for these soldier members and all other, soldiers. Why, should the onus, as at present, be cast on one section of tho community P Why should it not bo arranged that this liability should _ bo placed on tho shoulders of the nation? It'was pointed out by Bro. W. R. Gahagan, P.P.G.M. (North Canterbury), that the present system was open to much abuse. Ho had heard of instances where, soldier members had received months and months, of sick pay while overseas, when in reality they, were not entitled to one penny.

e Speaking on behalf of the Wanganui d district, Bro. H. Sharman, P.P.G.M., 1. remarked: "To a man we are prepared n to Btnnd by the boys at the front, not >- out of sentiment, but as a matter of >- principle." ■' x "If we are to extinguish sentiment, 0 let's begin on some other lines," com-' a inened a Hawke's Bay delegate* (Bro. I- J. Millburn), in opposing the motion, d while taking up an entirely different 11 attitude, • Bro. S. Williams, P.P.G.M. r (Ashburton), contended that the solder S in the hospital- \vas better off than- hisf * brother in the trenches, who drew no benefits. , The Grand Master took the view that the conference was not legislating for • its 2000 men who were overseas and not here to-day—they were legislating " against them. He appealed the Conference not to break faith _ with their ? sojdier members, who oil joining tha Order had been led to believe that their benofits would go on, no matter what 1 the nature of their occupation. And who could say that a wldiar's occupation was 7iot an honourable, a. " loyal, a legal-one? The conferenca " should stand by the society's obligations. The finances of the institution I as they at present stood could stand The amendment was then , put and I lost by.a large majority, as was also the remit, which was rejected by 18 votes to 16. _ I This means that sick • pay will .con- ! tinue to be paid to soldiers overseas. s The conference then adjounied till 9 ' o'clock this morning. It will also sit . this evening.