INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1991, 29 January 1907, Page 2

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

MANCHESTER UNITY. The official handbook of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows for 1907, .just issued by the Auckland District, is to hand. This world-wide Society numbers over 1,000,000 members, with a capital value amounting to nearly £13,000,000. The surplus capital of the various lodges at the. last valuation was over £1,000,000. a fact whien speaks volumes for the financial ma agemeut of the Order. The membership of the Auckland District now exceeds 3000, and the capital funds £75,000. The value of the sick and funeral fund of the Order on Dec. 31st, 1901, was £404.709. the value of those of all societies in the colonv being £835,027. It will thus be seen that the Manchester Unity represent'; almost half of the total wealth o; the. friendly societies working in New Zealand. By the last annual return it was shown that tho district paid in sick eenelits £3995 15s 8d; { iv funeral claims, £745; and for med-K-n, attendance and medicine, £2-130 xi’ is i\ ■*•*" 18 stated that a member of the Charles Bruce Lodge (Thames) received the large sum of £9BO 13s 4d. and he is still drawing his weekly allowance. Other lodges have‘also met some heavy claims on their sick Binds. One member drew £713 Gs Bd, another £660 16s Sd, and another £G34 13s 4d ; in all, six members of Waikato Lodge drew £3280 4s 7d, Ihe above figures amply indicate tlie great value of this society to its members.