I.O.O.F., Manchester Unity.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 190, 13 February 1897, Page 2

1.0 .0. F., Manchester Unity.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, February 11. At tbe annual district meeting of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfel'ows, Bro. Avery, Provincial Grand Master, said the question of women's lodges appeared to be a difficult matter for a Board of Directors and a Management Committee to dispose of. First, they declared tbat women were entitled to the privileges of the Order, and, after several lodges opened on these lines of rulings, it was given tbat they were not branchea, and could not be granted dis* pennations, and stood in the same relation to tbe Order as juvenile branches. If this was to be the basis of women's lodges, in his opinion, as far as New Zealand was concerned, where women had franchise, they would not care to retain memberbip of the Unity. Some of the lodges in the district are not m a satisfactory state; the attendance is disappointing, and juvenile lodges are not as flourishing as they should be. The number of members is 1228. Tbe balance-sheet, showed a credit balance on tbe sick fund of __24,201 ; management fnnd, .£1292; central fund, ..1032. A long discussion took place on the question of an establishment of Board of Directors, aod eventually the following resolution was carried by 17 to 6 " That this district is favourable to the formation of a triennial movable committee, when eight districts have signified tbeir intention of joining." Bro. C. W. Johnson, of Petone, was elected Provincial Grand Master.