GOOD TEMPLAR CONFERENCE AT AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1227, 8 February 1878, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLAR CONFERENCE AT AUCKLAND.

At a Good Templar conference held in Auckland the other day on the question whether the Auckland lodges should .join the English or American lodges, there was a good deal of strong discussion. Brother Goldie then gare the reason why the Sir Henry Havelock Lodge had refused to take the present quarter’s pass-word. Numbers were disgusted with the existing state of affairs, and desired alterations. They objected to the capitation tax of 4d per member, and a quarterly fee of 2s 6d xn,ales and Is 6d females, which had been fixed by the Grand Lodge. He considered that the members were right during the past three years. He said the Grand Lodge had received a sum of £ll2 from subordinate lodges for the advancement of the principles of the order, and considered that this money had been foolishly expended. He referred to various items in the Grand Lodge accounts, which he said were exorbitant; also to £l2O per year paid to the grand secretary, which was high. He would undertake to get the work done for £25. [Cries of “Shame” and “Cheap Jack.”] This statement was received with other evident marks of disapproval. Several gentlemen stated that the salary paid to the secretary was ve-y low, considering the amount of work he was called upon to perform. Bro. Spright said Bro. Goldie had no right to impeach the Grand Lodge executive at this meeting for the manner in which it had expended money. As one of the executive, he considered that Bro. Goldie was acting in an underhand manner in making such an accusation at a meeting where the executive had no power to reply to him. The money had been spent properly, and if Bro. Goldie did not think so, he should meet the executive fairly and say so.’ Bro. Goldie—l will. Bro. Spright—Very well, Bro. Goldie spoke at some length on the advantages accruing from working under the American constitution, At present they paid

fourpence per member capitation to the Grand Lodge without anj return. The American constitution permitted them to appoint their own executive officers, and spend money in their own lodges for the vancement of temperance principles. -They would then be in a better position to do good than if they paid the money to the Grand Lodge. The quarterly fee of 2* bd for males and Is 6d for females, agreed to at last meeting of the Grand Lodge, was too high. Brother Cole stated they were just in the same position as they had been prior to the question of admitting the negro being introduced into the Grand Lodge. He thought should keep aloof either from the Eight Worthy Grand Lodge of America or Right Worthy Grand Loog© of tho World, and have a Grand Lodge for New Zealand, north and south. The expense incurred for the officers’ salaries would be decreased by tho two present Grand Lodges (north and south) being merged into one, and the subordinate lodges would then have to pay a smaller amount for capitation tax. They would be able to increase their expenditure. Brother Cole then moved a resolution to tho following effect—“ That ns there is at present no prospect of tho dispute between the Grand Lodges of England and America being amicably settled, the D.D.R.W.G. Templars of New Zealand (north and south) be requested to merge the two New Zealand Grand Lodges into one united Grand Lodge for the colony, which shall give allegiance to neither English nor American supreme bodies until the dispute is satisfactorily settled.” This was carried.