RETURNED SOLDIERS WELCOMED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS WELCOMED

BIG GATHERING OF DRUIDS LODGES' LIABILITY FOR MEMBERS AT THE FRONT The Excelsior Lodge of Druids, iiidcd by members of sister lodges, extended a hearty welcome last evening to half a dozen of their members who Ivad seen active service in Franco. Those so honoured wore: Private A. J. -Marshall (hospital ship), Private 6. Abey (Fourth Reinforcements), Signaller A. L. Duck (Twentieth), Trooper . H. M. Duck Twelfth), Lance-Corporal T. 11. Hook (Eloventh), and Sapper A. T. Jackmun (Tenth). Bro. A. K. Divey, Arch-Druid, presided, nnd among those present was the Minister of Munitions (the Hon. A. M. Myers) and the Hon. W. Earnshaw. Tho Druids' Hall in Tory Street was well filled, three long rows of tables being occupied, many of those attending being, in regalia. Bro. W. M'Laughlin a orchestra provided tho musical - programme. The Areh-Drnid extended a cordial welcome to' all present, and said that thej had gathered toother that evening to honour several of their soldier members who had returned from tho Ho then proposed the toast of "Tho lving and "Tho Druids," and tt was honoured with the singing of the National Anthem. Toasts nnd musical items followed in quick succession. , .. To the toast of "The Grand Lodge, Bro. E. Mewburn, Grand President of tho executive, replied. Ho said that the Druids had done remarkably well, the Druids in the North Island in particular being well represented in the firing line. •Ho then shortly related the history ot tho Druids in New Zealand. The order was started in Canterbury about 40 years ago. The Druids were then under tho Victorian regime, but 25 years ago they struck out for home rule, and the order had gone ahead ever since. He stated that the order never had any Governmenfc soiuo other friend]} societies had had. But the time was coming when they would have to face serious problems, and they would be obliged to seek Government aid. He was glad to say that the Hon. A. JI. Myers, who ho was pleased to see was a Druid, as were also several members of 1 arliament, including Messrs. Fletchcr, Jon» nings, and Earnshaw. He referred to tho payments made by the lodges in 191G, wliich amounted to ,£BBSB. Men had como back from the f ront sick and crippled and had come on to the lodges, and tlioy could not bo refused assistance, becauss they were entitled to it by their past con. tribntions. Ho contended that the care of these men was a national work, and the Government should shoulder the liability. He quoted the case of a returned soldier who had •ome upon the funds of a lodge in Wanganui. The man was paralvsod from the hip downwards, but was in-perfect health otherwise, and should he livo for twenty years the liability of that lodgd would be iSl3a 10s. Tho Druids had about a thousand men at the frojit, and .the liability of tho lodges for these men was .£l2O each, and if thev- were all killed the lodges would be liable for i120,0D0,- and the lodges would have to trv and meet the liability. Did they not think that that was a national work, that the money should, bo found out of tho publio purse? Tho Government should coino to their assistance and pay the contributions and the sick pay of the soldiers. The Druids had levied contributions from members ot 3s a year to meet the contributions or members at the front, anil they had thus received JE2OO a year. But with the calling up of the Second Division the number of contributors would, decrease, while tho liabilities, were increasing, -the 1 Grand Lodge of the North Island was losing JE6112 2s. 7d. a year in forgoing i contributions and tho lodges were losing ! iC2122 10s. He appealed to the Mimstei and to the Government to take into consideration the position ol i friendly societies in this mattei I and alford some relief. He referred tc : the National I'rovidont Fund, nnd predicted that it was going' to be the wors thing the taxpayers in New Zealand were going to face. lie thought that the Kogistrnr of Friendly Societies should bo cut clear of tho National Providen Fund He claimed that tho lodges should be allowed as a maternity fund., lliev had only £i now, as against £6 allowed bv the National Provident fund. Attei referring again to tho disturbance eausec ' to the funds of friendly societies nnd tli( I serious outlook before them, lie urg« ■ that the Government should assist thi : SO cicties. 110 extended a hearty welcomi to their returned soldier members am , guests.

Hon. A. M, Myers's Speech. In responding to the toast of tho New Zealand Parliament, proposed by Vice-. Grand President Bro. l'lanna?an, the Hou. A. Si. Myers said when the secretary asked him to come along ho felt euro that he was going to havo a convivial evening. Ho was a Druid and was proud of it. He listened with pleasure to tho speech of tho Grand President, who criticised the Government and the National Provident Fund. Ho extended a welcome to the returned soldiers and eulogised them for their services to the Et'inire. It must have been a source of sal inaction to thorn to find that _ the spirit of jail- was still being maintained. We were going, to see tho war through to the end, and tho same inflexible determination existed as at the beginning of tho war. He agreed with the proposer of the toast that executne oihee in friendly societies was a grand training eround for members of Parliament. I hey learned there the value of serving others. Ho was proud of the New Zealand Parliament, which he considered was a replica of the Mother Parliament. Ho had tho privilege of travelling, and he believed (hat the New Zealand Par lament was loss corrupt than any Parliament in the world. Thoir two great statemen, tho Hon. W. F. Maasey «M ™ Joseph Ward, wiio would attend the Imperial' Conference would meet at tnat conference a loyal and patriotic peop.e. He congratulated the Grand Lodge of Druids in the North Island on the remarkable progress made by tho society, end "ave some official figures to emphasise his point. , Continuing II r. Mvers said that the Government had mado an attempt to recognise its responsibilities with regard to soldiers by paying one-half of the insurance rates. 'Hie Government had paid over .£34,000, and the amount of cover held bv societies was over -0400,000. The , Government might not have gone as tar i as it could or as far as they thought it should go Ho suggested that they should bring their ca«o before the Government and ho beliovcd'the Government would consider the matter sympathetically, lie maintained that provision had been made for nil soldiers incapacitated or parliallv incapacitated from taking their place in the industrial life of the community. Ho would like to have the names of those who had not received Mils assistance from tho Government. Ho asked 11,01)1 to submit the whole qucs turnto tho Government, and they would lid that tho position would be submitted to Cabinet, and it would receive earnest and sviipathetii! consideration. He extended' a hearty welcomo to tho returned soldiers, a'ld ho hoped they would hud themselves caoable of doing 'iseful work in the couinrinity.