ODDFELLOWS' SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 168, 5 April 1918, Page 7

ODDFELLOWS' SOCIETY

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED ELECTION OF OFFICERS - INSTALLATION CEREMONY The New Zealand branch of tho Manchester Unity Independent Order of (Oddfellows' Friendly Society continued (its biennial conferenco in Wellington Lyesterday, Grand Master I. Salok presided. Aid for War Members. : Consideration of matters coneected pvith the assisting of war members was ' ■ •- ■■' The following provision was decided pon:—"No lodge shall pay to a war member any portion of the sick benefit until the original claim is authorised by the Prov. C.S., and no Prov. C.S. shall authorise tho payment of side benefit other than upon'the certificate of the Base Records Office or as. provided in paragraph 8 of general role 142, until he is authorised so to do by tho society officers." . : The conferenco resolved:—"Every certificate shall state clearly the complaint from which tho member is suffering, and it shall be the dutjr of the lodge ito satisfy the society officers as ?to the genuineness of the claim before .tany refund can be obtained from this ifund. No war member who has sufferjed'or may suffer from any venereal [disease shall be entitled to any sick Ipay from this or any other fund while suffering from that disease or tho contee.quence of that disease, and the onus sbf proof shall be upon him." • It was decided that without limiting viiie operation of paragraph 8 of general (rule 142 the method declaring on and loff this fund whilst on active service [shall be by means of the Base Records [Office' certificates, or (if, they are not /available), by such: other certificate or certificates as shall be approved by the taociety officers. If a war member is on (this fund, at the time of his military ijdisobirge, he shall remain on until he iis medically discharged. After his milijtary discharge a war member may declare on again in tho same' mariner as an ordinary member, within the time hereinafter.referred to.. If at any time within tw.elve months after ■ hjs military discharge (if he is not then on. the or if he is on -the fund at the time of his military discharge then Tvithin that time after he is medically 'discharged) a war' member may again "be declared on the fund on the certificate of a lodge medical officer if it is certified by such medical officer that the complaint is the result of, or Briefing from, his duties as a war member. {JiU questions relating to the lapse of •'time on the part of a war -member on (active service before declaring on nnd .'off shall be decided by the society offi-> Veers on the merits of eaoh case.

It "wae , agreed that the incoming 'directors should wait on the- Minister iof Defence aud request him to instruct itne medical doctors to issue medical I certificates . to members of friendly suffering from sickness or' J wounds as issued by the doctors to lEnglish lodges. ■ ■ "Merely to Legalise." I '"Merely; to legalise actions we cave I'taken in the past," the following -was [agreed on:—"Rule 32, insert new ;clause 10, : being English general.rule 137,: clause 19, giving districts power to (establish Past Grands' lodges,; as follows : Districts shall have power to establish lodges of Past Grands,, end ißuch lodges .may adopt any rulesfor (their government, and any regulations *for benefits that are in accordance with 'the spirit and principles of the general •rules of the unity. When Past Graad jlodges are established, notice of the Jsame shall, be forwarded- to ,the C:S. -of the order by the Proy. C.5.." ". ■ - Discontinuance of Contributions. ■ A proposal for the inauguration of a .scheme for the discontinuance of contributions by members who attain the age of 60 years was rejected. ' • ' . 1 It was decided that the ■ salaries j should be the same as last year,' and i'that the'levy'should be fivepence as •formerly':-,' ' -■""■■ Election of Officers. Officers were elected as follow:— G.M., Bro. P. W. Watt; Ashburtonj (Deputy G.M., Bro. TV-,Thomas, Auck,land; corresponding secretary, Bro. J. i Kershaw, Wellington; treasurer, Bro. G. E, Godber, Wellington; directors,• '.Bros. T. Aitken, Auckland; D. P. lLoasby, Wellington; H. Bull, Hawke's |Bay; A. G. Shrimpton, Nelson; I'YA. .Moore, Taranaki; and W. R. Gahajgan, North Canterbury. ,- In the evening the installation cere/mony took place. . . . , In installing the Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master, the rearing G.M. remarked that both were great fighters, who would continue to

render the lodge service. Both had been members of the society for many years. Bro. Korshaiv, who had been corresponding secretary of the society for so long, was a giant in the order; and Bro. Godbcr (treasurer) also wns well known and respected for his good work in the interests of the society. Bro. Salck, retiring G.M., was presented with a jewel, and complimented on tho work ho had done while holding the chief office. Presentations woro made to Miss Perkins (a guest of tho society), Mr. W. H. Madeley (who had entertained lady visitors), and Mesdames G. E. Godbcr, A. Guise, A. H. Madeley, and Miss H. Smith (Wellington district ladies' entortaiivmont committee).