ODDFELLOWS CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 131, 27 February 1919, Page 5

ODDFELLOWS CONFERENCE

The annual conference of tlie Wellington District Order of Oddfellows opened on Tuesday- afternoon at Greytown, the Grand Master,-Bro. W. I. Clark, of the Antipodean Lodge, Wellington, presided. The District Management Committees report showed pride of the 14,350 of its members, associated with 200,000 members of the Grand Order, who had fought for right and justice. Eeference was made to the loss during the epidemic ot such popular officers ae Bros. B. Slothes, P.P.G.AI. (Petone), 3. K. Eecnberg, P.G. (Martinborough, , secretary), W. J. Palmer P.G. (ex-secretary JlangatainoKn), and C. D. Bobertson, P.P.G.M., of the Antipodean Lodge. The committee records its appreciation of the splendid spirit of sacrifice displayed. The resultant distress has prompted one of the committee members to ask: "Is not the time opportune for meeting changed economic conditions to the extent of in- ' creasing the weekly eick benefit to £1 10s., and removing the scale o£ reductions or inaugurating a benefit in accordance with family responsibilities?" In the meantime it appears evident that tne Widows' Pensions Act should be very substantially liberalised, and disablement pensions given some consideration by our legislators, as part of a policy of social reconstruction." The total ndult male and female membership of the A.M.C. us at January 1, 1918, was (m>Bl4. '-The total independent membership, including adult wale and female, juveniles, widows subscribing for ftineral txyefits, and honorary members, is 1,009,753.