FRIENDLY SOCIKTIES COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8192, 19 May 1906, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIKTIES COUNCIL.

Ax important gathering will take place at Wellington on Monday, when tiie Friendly Societies" Council will hold its second annual meeting. Delegates will be present from all parts of the colony, and a number of questions which vitally concern the successful working of the different Orders will be discussed. It is a singular fact that since the formation of the Council no provision has been made for securing its registration, hence this body has no legal standing, aud its influence must of necessity be weakened. The only way registration can be effected is by securing an amendment of the Friendly Societies' Act, which should have been done last session, so as to enable the Council to meet this year with a muchimproved status. The matter will, we understand, be dealt with by the delegates next week. They will also be called upon to discuss the subject of representation at the annual meeting. This is a burning question among some of the lodges, owing to the voting power beinsj very unequal, but the difficulty can be overcome by having the representation fixed on a membership has s, which seems to be the fairest way of dealing with the matter. If this suggestion is brought under the notice of the Council it may meet with the approval of the majority. The formation of the Council marks a distinct advance m the labours of friendly societies—institutions which have done

more m an unostentatious way to encourage thrift and provide for the willow and orphan. l ! than any other organisation in the cofiirnunity-—asvl we wish the delegates every success in tSioir deliberations.