FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 4158, 24 June 1876, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' CONFERENCE.

The delegates appointed by the Friendly Societies of Dunedin to discuss the new Friendly Societies Bill, now before Parliament, met in the Oddfellows' Hall, George street, last evening. Representatives for the different Societies had been appointed as follows : Manchester Unitv,' 1.0.0 F., P.G.M. Bro. Anderson, D.P.G.M. Bro. .ueslie, and P.O.S Bro. Sligo, representing 1,600 members ; Ancient Order of Foresters, D.C.R. Bro. Asher, D.S. Bro. Woodland, P.D.C.R. Bro. Wilson, representing 1,400 members ; Independent Order of Oddfellows, G.M. Bro. Braithwaite, P.G.M. Bro. Michie, P.G. Bro. Aldridge, 900 members; Sons of Temperance, P.W.P. Bro. Cameron, P.W.P. Bro. Price, W.P. Bro. Carr, 130 members; Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Messrs W. Bragg, J. Malcolm, and L. W. Clark, 250 members. tt l ? 6 ,£ rand Master of the Manchester Unity (Bro. Anderson) was elected chairman, and Bro. Sligo secretary. It was »- solved that the Chairman, being a delegate, should exercise the privilege of having a deliberative as well as a casting vote, The Chairman referred to the business before the meeting, and the Secretary explained the proceedings already taken, Which were enjoined, and the clauses of the BiH were then discussed seriatim. The clauses were then read one by one, until exception was taken to that part of No. 7, providing—"That the insurance against fire be to an amount not exceeding Lls on the tools or implements of the trade or calling of the members."—Mr Bragg, of the Carpenters' Society, moved that the amount be Lloo.—Mr Asher moved, as an amendment, that it be fixed at L3o.—The amendment was carried, but subsequently it was resolved, on the motion of Bro. Braithwaite, that the matter be left to the consideration of the Trades' Societies to mako their own representations to Government.

With reference to section 4, of clause 8, Mr Sligo moved -"That, in the opinion of this meeting, it ia advisable that the office of Revising Barrister be left out of this Bill; and that the Registrar be a barrister."— Carried.

Bro. Braithwaite proposed that section A, of clauae 9, with regard to the preparation of model forms, be optional as to what forms be used.—The Secretary remarked that the Government might construe this into an evasion to supply them with the usual returns.-The words being added, " with the exception of returns to the Government," the motion was carried. It was resolved, with reference to clause 10 of seotion 9, after the word "refusal" in the second line to insert "to the Judge of the Supreme Court of the district in which it carries on its operations, either in Chambers or in Banco, and the decisions there given shall be binding." In clause 13 section 1, sub-section C, it was resolved that the clause of the English Act be adopted, which provides that "once, at least, in every year, every registered Society shall submit its accounts for auoit either to one of the public auditors appointed as herein mentioned, or to two ormore persons appointed as the rules of the Society provide," &c.

In sub-section D of clause 13, it was resolved to add the following from the English Act:—" And if by any person or persons other than a public auditor, shall state the name, address, aud calling or profession of each of such persons, and the manner in which, and the authority under which, they were respectively appointed." In sub-section F of clause 13, it was resolved that the section with regard to quinquennial valuations should be taken in its entirety from the English Act, which provides that it shall be optional for each Society to appoint its own valuator. In sub-section G of clause 13, the words " valuer or any " were struck out in the sentence which provides that any member or person having an interest in the funds of the Society shall be allowed to inspect the books thereof.

t At midnight, clause 13 had been reached, and to adjourn till Friday evening next.