MANCHESTER UNITY, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1509, 12 February 1916, Page 3

MANCHESTER UNITY, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WANGANUI DISTRICT.

The annual meeting 'of the Wanganui District of the M.U., 1-0,0. F. was held in the Masonic Hall, Foxton, on Thursday last, at 8 a.m. Present: —Prov. G.M. Bro. H. H. Hope (Ohakuue), D.G.M. Bro, R. W. Beaduall (Palmerston N.), Prov. C.S. Bro. I. Salek (Wellington), Deputies ; Loyal Wanganui Lodge, Bros. W. D. Harris, W- Flyger, E. Liddle, and G. H. Espiner; Loyal Manawatu Lodge, Bros. H. Sharman, W. S. Woodroofe and S. J. Watson ; Loyal Manchester Lodge, Bros. C. B. Aitken and E. A. Garlick; Loyal Apiti Lodge, Bro. J. W. J. Thomson ; Loyal Kimbolton Lodge, Bro. J. Henaghan ; Loyal Bunnythorpe Lodge, Bro. W. B. Duthie ; Loyal Hunterville Lodge, Bro. G. Jonson; Loyal Ohakune Lodge, Bros. D. H. Moran and P. H. Gosse ; Loyal Raetihi Lodge, Bro. G. P. Russell ; Loyal Mangaweka Lodge, Bros. E. McDonnell and T. H. James ; Loyal Foxton Lodge, Bro. A. G. Huntley ; Loyal Hautapu Lodge, Bro. J. Newth. P.P.G.M. Bro. S. J. Rely was invited to take a seat at the table. The Grand Master, in declaring the meeting open, briefly referred to the position of the District. He paid a tribute to the late P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Bamber, and also to those members from this district who had fallen in the war. In respect to their memory a short adjournment was made before proceeding with the business.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, the district and lodge balance-sheets were then taken. The Corresponding Secretary gave a report upon the list of members who had gone to the war. The report showed that seventy members had left from the Wanganui District, and that 14 had been killed and eight wounded. The annual returns showed that the position of the funds were as underWanganui £19,307. Manawatu .£5,670, Manchester £2,347, Apiti £1,877, Bunnythorpe £7BB, Kimboiton £238, Hqnterville £ll2, Hautapu £855, Rangitikei £2,722, Ohakune £323, Foxtou £461, Raetihi£47, District £l4l ; total £34,888. The Corresponding Secretary suggested that the Dodges that had a war distress fund and also a benevolent fund should take steps to amalgamate the two funds under the one heading of benevolent fund.

The Book Examiner’s report upon the books of the Dodges in the district was read and adopted.

In reference to the exemptions from stamp duty, the following letter was received from the Friendly Societies Department “In connection with stamp duty exemptions relative to Friendly Societies, the following information is appended hereto : The exemption granted by Section 98 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, concerning receipts and duty on cheques will,still act as an exemption from any such duties increased by the Finance Act, 1915. This means that Friendly Societies may still continue to give receipts for money paid into them as Friendly Societies without stamping the receipt, and they may continue to issue cheques in conformity with Section 98 also without any stamp duty. , It is pointed out, however, that moneys paid into a Friendly Society as interest off. mortgages does not come within the category of this exemption. The new stamp duty chargeable under the Finance Act, 1915, on all mortgages of land will also apply to investments by Friendly Societies on mortgages of land, and in these cases the duty is payable by the Society as mortgagee.” This allows Lodges that have special cheques printed exemption from stamp duty thereon.

Bro, Sharman moved, That all contributions of soldier members be paid until their discharge, or until the end of the war, —Seconded by Bro. McDonnell, and carried unanimously. Bro. Sharman moved, and Bro. Garlick seconded, That all members who enlist should cease paying their contributions immediately the transports leave.— Carried. Bro. Moran moved, That the Loyal Hautapu Lodge be given permission to make an appeal to each Lodge in the district on behalf of a member. —Seconded by Bro. Gosse, and carried. Bro. Watson moved, and Bro. Gosse seconded, That the Loyal Raetibi Lodge be brought under the provisions ot Rule 47, “Expeditionary Members’ District Contributions and Sick Funds.” — Carried. Bro. Aitken moved, That the District Management Committee meetings be discontinued. —Seconded by Bro. Thomson. As the General Rules (64) provided for a management committee, the Grand » Master ruled the motion out of order. Bro. Flyger moved, That the salary of th? Prov. C.S. be increased by a year.—Seconded by Bro. Gosse, and carried. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —Prov. G.M., Bro. R. W. Beadnail (Palmerston N.) ; D.G.M., Bro. 8.-A. Garlick (Feilding); Management and Arbitration Committee, Bros. T. H... fOhakune), G. P* Russell (Raedhi) H. Sharman (Palmerston N ) ’W. Flyger (Wanganui), R. Johnstone (Fojcton). and G. J. McDonnell (Mangaweka) ; auditor. Bro. J.,H.Mirgin 5 (FeUdmg), book examiner, Bro. G. H. E piner (Buunythorpe), deputies to

B.M.C. (to be held at Greymouth at Easter), Bros. W. J. Thomson and H. Sharmau,

For the next annual meeting the following places were proposed: Apiti, Feilding, Hunterville and Raetihi. The result ot the voting decided upon Apiti.

A levy of 3s was made on the Lodges, on the motion of Bros, Watson and Flyger. Tbs business for the B.M.C. was considered in detail, and instructions given on the various matters to the deputies;

With regard to suggestions from the districts for the B.M.C. meeting, Bro. Watson proposed, and Bto. Espiner seconded, “That I further promise that should I enlist for active service within twelve months from date hereof, I agree to forfeit all claims whereby the district pays my contributions, sickness claims, or funeral payments, and that my action of enlisting snail not be a burden to this or any other Lodge in the Manchester Unity.—Carried. The newly-elected officers were installed by P.P.G.M. Bro. E. McDonnell, in a very appropriate manner. The officers duly returned thanks for the election. P.P.G.M. Bro. H. H. Hope was presented with a set of regalia and emblem and framed photograph, and his name to be placed on the district merit board. The usual votes were carried, and the meeting adjourned.