Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1360, 25 September 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1883.

In another column will be seen a compilation from the General Statistics for 1882, giving a return of the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the Colony of New Zealand. It is not our intention to confine ourselves to this Order alone, but we shall, in future issues, give like particulars of every Friendly Society known in these Colonies. Upon looking over these statistics we cannot be other than surprised at the rapid progress which all these institutions have made, and the unqualified success which has crowned their efforts. There are fifteen benefit Societies named as follows Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with 107 lodges ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with 17 lodges, the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with 2 lodges ; the Ancient Order of Foresters with 79 lodges ; the Ancient Order of Shepherds, with 2 lodges; the Ancient Order of Druids, with 25 lodges; the Loyal United Friends Benefit Society, with 1 lodge ; Independent Order of Rechabites, with 30 lodges ; th< | Sons and Daughters of Temperance, with 7 lodges; the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society, with 6 lodges; the New Zealand Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society, with 7 lodges ; the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia, with 8 lodges; the Railway Benefit Societies, with 2 lodges; and two isolated Local Societies, with 1 lodge each. The foregoing 15 benefit societies are composed of 19,353 members, who own property to the value of £234,935 Ils 3d. The whole of the societies show a very marked increase of prosperity for the year. Now, though these figures are most encouraging, as showing the stability and soundness of these several institutions, yet we fail to see why they should aim at accumulating property by levying a subscription over and above what is necessary to meec the ordinary working expenses of the several lodges, and carrying a small amount per annum to a reserve fund, which should not exceed a stated moderate sum. Of course it might be the intention of some lodges and orders to accumulate property until they became self supporting without any subscription whatever. But this would render it necessary that all joining members should pay a proportionate share before becoming eligible to participate in the benefits which, of right, belong alone to those who had created them. It is plain that this scheme would not work well tor many reasons, and is opposed to the meaning and intent of the societies. This being so, would it not be advisable that, in

I the event of the receipts exceeding the expenditure, af :er the reserve fund has been provided for, to disburse the balance equally amongst th e members annually. There is little doub'i but what a very small contribution wo’ald suffice for the maintenance of these benefit societies in such a healty climate as this is proved to be.