MANCHESTER UNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 2

MANCHESTER UNITY

OTAGO DISTRICT ODDFELLOWS HALF-YEARLY MEETING The half-yearly meeting of the District Committee of the M.U.1.0.0.F. was held on Saturday, there being a large attendance of deputies from the district lodges. P.G.M. W. H. Masters presided and he was assisted by P.D.G.M M. J. Boardman, P.C.S. A. Sligo, P.T. W. R. Sellar, P.P.G.M. H. E. Ransome and P.G.'s W. Couper and R. J. Hanrahan. District Officers' Report The report of the district officers, which covered the activities of the Order in Otago for the past six months was discussed fully, clause by clause, and was adopted. It was decided to send a cablegram to the headquarters of the Manchester Unity in England expressing the Otago district's feelings of good fellowship during the trying times though which people in Britain were passing. The balance sheet and auditors' report was approved. Remits A remit from the Loyal Naseby Lodge:—" That the Loyal Naseby Lodge be permitted to alter its rules to allow it to function as a lodge of male and female membership" was carried. The following remit from the Loyal Valley Lodge was carried:—" That no amount exceeding £25 shall be voted at any district meeting from the Management Fund, unless notice of such intention has appeared on the district business paper." War-time Membership The question of the initiation of new members during the .war was fully discussed when two remits from the district officers were put before the meeting. The first remit sought to give permission to a district meeting or standing committee meeting.to suspend initiation of all persons or any particular class of persons for such period as might be determined. Moving the remit, P.G.M. Masters said that there was no provision in the rules of the Order for the refusing of members other than by " black-ball-ing" them. It was only a machinery clause to which no objection could be P.G. Bro. H. Armstrong objected to the remit on the grounds that it was aimed at young men, who, wishing to join a lodge, might enter the military forces —a most unpatriotic stand to take. After some discussion the remit was carried. . , The second remit, the adoption of which was also moved by Bro. Masters, was as follows:—" That this meeting of the District Committee hereby instructs lodges that for the duration of the war no initiations of male benefit members shall be taken after September 28, 1940, with the exception of the transfer of juvenile lodge members who were members at September 28 or any other juvenile members who have been in membership for at least three years." Bro. Armstrong expressed the opinion that 'f the remit were adopted no delegate would be able to hold his head up again. He hoped it would be thrown out. P.P.G.M. J. Wilson said there was no great urgency at the present time. If the war lasted a long time and there was a danger of a drain on the funds of the Order through soldier-members having to be helped or payments made on their behalf the matter could be reconsidered. He moved: ," That this question be deferred for six months. P P G.M. P. W. Stabb said the question of finance was a vital one, and they must consider their responsibility to the contracts already entered into with present members, not those who might become members from now on. If the war continued for a number of years, there would be a tremendous drain on their financial resources. Bro. Wilson's amendment, however, should be accepted, so that full consideration could be given to the whole matter. The amendment was carried. General The half-yearly levy to the District Benefit Fund was fixed at 3s. It was decided to hold the annual meeting on March, 1941, in the lodge room of Loyal Centenary Lodge. A donation of £lO 10s was made to the Makogai Leper Fund.