ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 64, 22 March 1913, Page 8

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

M.U.1.0.0.F. ANNUAL MEETING DISTRICT OFFICERS’ REPORT. Dear Brethren.—hi presenting another of the annuah reports it is om pleasure and duly to lay before you some of the results of the work accomplished during the year. Whip there is much that is must encouraging there is still, we believe, many opportunities for advancement and improvement. Every lodge in the district has been visited with most happy experiences by your district officers. A cordial welcome has been the unvarying reception accorded us, and the various matters advanced havt been very carefully listened to, and we trust that we have been enabled to sow seed that will not lie altogether unproductive. The meetings grew in interest as Vt proceeded, and tne attendance of members was a distinct improvement oh last year’s. The meetings at Elthan. and Stratford were especially inter-

esting, in each case there wore fraternal visits from sister lodges, greatly enhancing the enjoyment and usefulness of the gatherings. We are glad, too, to have this opportunity of saying that we were greatly pleased wit! the meetings of the Optmake anc. Toko Lodges. The brethren of thesi lodges have, in the spirit of Oddfellowship, “held the fort,” and the position of both is now very different tc. what it was some three years ago. ’Everything points to a happy and successful future for them. The accounts and books of the lodge:have been closely examined, and wa have to give a favourable and satis-

factory report thereon. The securities. ■ held for advances are good, and witi the keen demand for money for investment, the lodges, from a financial point of view, can look forward to good times. We are pleased to say tlia'. there lias, in several of the lodges, been an improved return from ledge hall properties. This form of investment is not looked upon with favour hilt, in the case of the Loyal Union Lodge we are pleased to be able to saj that for the first time in the history of their hall it made a return of G per cent. We are informed that an energetic committee were in charge oi affairs, and were determined to work' this part of the lodge’s investments insecure an adequate return for the money invested. The Central Funeral Fund, establish ed last year, is now in’full operation. It is too early yet to judge of the results; there has been some objection raised to the table of payments to this fund- The older lodges find tin payments very heavy, and some arc inclined to think that in view of the .favourable mortality experiences of past years the payments are on the high side. The valuation report shows that during the five years, 190(5-10, the mortality in this district was 27.

against 36 expected claims, being !fav- \ curable to the extent of 33 1-3 per cant; for the extended period of If years they were 67 against an expected 77, showing a favourable experi-' once of some 16 per cent. It must, 1 however, be borne in mind that very often a favourable mortality experience means a longer and heavier sickness experience. We notice that the Valuer says: “It probably has not been

so iii this case.” As a matter of fact, our sickness experience tor 190(510 was favourable to the extent ot £1307, or 25 per cent. Evidently in Taranaki long life and healthy life go together. It also must not be forgotten that the older lodges have come into the Central Funeral Fund with many of their members at very advanced ages. The accumulated funds ot years of membership are retained by the lodges, and of necessity the premiums payable to the Central fund are high. The valuation for the period ending! December 31st, 1010, has been re- j ceived from the Registrar of i* ricndly Societies. The results are most satisfactory, showing a surplus of £2010; if to this is added the other assets

in various funds amounting to over £7OO, the district as a whole shows a surplus of some £3600.

The results of the valuation must be deemed very satisfactory; seven lodges have surplus funds amounting to £4157, whilst four have deficiencies totalling £I2OB, leaving a net surplus as stated of £2040.

Applications for the appropriation ol surplus will ho laid before you from the Excelsior, Waitara, and Mantua Lodges.

The increased Funeral Benefit insurance Fund, founded by the New Zealand branch, has been brought into active operation, but we regret that it has not been well supported; in fact, the response lias been most disappointing. Members do not scion to have realised the special benefits

afforded by the scheme. Several lodges have issued cards giving details concerning payments and benefits, and

wo trust the circulation of these ma\ lead to increased entrants. We coni mend the fund to the brethren as being worthy of their hearty support. The question of secessions is a most difficult one; the frequent changes of residence in the dominion entails a bigloss in members. As showing thiloss it may bo interesting to know that for the seven years 1906-12 inclusive, 8-57 members were initiated, 1( joined by clearance, and 5 were reinstated, making a total of 871 ; the loss was, by death 47, clearance 18. arrears and resignation 555, total 620 the net gain being 251. The annual returns show the position of the funds to be as follows: Sick funds of lodges, £27,175 7s 3d; man agement funds, £363 13s 4d. The receipts were: Sick and funeral fund. £3309 4s 2d; management fund, £602 7s -Id; medical expenses fund, £1238 9s Id; total £5200 0s 7d. The expenditure was for sickness benefits £864 18s Sd, or £206 19s 10d less than last year; funeral benefits £ISOO, or £240 less than for 1911 : these two items showing a decrease o! £446’19s lOd. The sum of £I2BB 9t Id was paid for medical attendance The total expenditure was £3423 9, c sd. The total value of all the fundr was £28,501 6s: -2d,I being an increase of £1291 18s 3d fof the year.

The membership of the 'Order ii New Zealand at the end of 1911 wai 23,123; of these" 16,433 were in tin 'N.Z. branch, some 7699 being in dig tricts not yet affiliated to that bocl.v The aggregate capital of Friendly So cieties in the dominion was £1,441,352 of this amount the Manchester Unit; accounts for £674',075. We cannot conclude this‘report with out again expressing our heartfel thanks to the brethren for tire man; happy and kindly experiences of on

year of office. Kindness and courtesy has been the universal rule, and wc are grateful. The coming year will I* fraught with great issues. May we meet them with open minds and in the spirit of that true fraternity of which the Manchester Unity has for long years been the embodiment. Let ns “hold the fort” in friendship, love and truth. We are, brethren, yours as over in the bonds of Oddfellowship, J. W. SNOWDON, p.g.m. W. MOUNTFOPI), P.D.G.M. C. E. BELLRINGER, P.C.S. GENERAL. P.P.G.M. Pro. Amoore was nominated for the position of D.P.G.M. ol the Now Zealand District. it was decided to nominate D.P.G.M. Pro. Smith, of the Wellington District, for the position of Grand Master of the New Zealand District. P.P.G.M. Pro. Amoore and P.P.G.M. Pro. C. E. Bellringer were nominated for the position on the directorate oi the New Zealand branch. The corresponding secretary’s report on the lodge management funds was adopted. The district management levy for the year 1913 was fixed at 9d per member per quarter. The Lojal Waitara, Manaia and Excelsior Lodges were granted permission to appropriate the surplus funds according to general rule. Nominations for the position of Deputy Grand Master for the year 19.1-1 are as follows: P.G. Pro. E. 11. Bellringer, P.G. Pro. T. Lawson, P.G. Pro. Butler, P.G. Pro. Stunners, P.G. Pro. Parkinson, P.G. Pro. Scown, P.G. Pro. Cunningham.

It was decided as soon as convenient to alter the name of the district from New Plymouth to Taranaki, and that the district rules he amended and printed accordingly. The district committee consists of the district officers, and P.P.G.M.’s Pres. C. D. Sole, E. Amoore, Ainsworth, Hancock, Snowdon, and P.G. Pro. Bellringer.

The meeting also decided to present a jewel to the member proposing the most members during the year.

The newly elected officers were then duly installed into their respective offices by P.P.G.M. Bro. C. K. Bellringer. Provincial G.M. Bro. Mountford and Prov. I).G.M. Bro. Melville, thanked the brethren for the honor conferred upon them.

Deputy Brabant proposed, and Deputy Ainsworth seconded, that the host thanks of the meeting be tendered to P.P.G.M. Bro. Snowdon for bis valuable services as Prov. G.M., and that his name be placed on the District Merit Board, and that he be presented with a P.P.G.M. jewel and a certificate to enable him to take the P.P. G.M. degree. Bro. Snowdon was then presented by the P.G.M. with his P.P.G.M. jewel and suitably replied.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Loyal Stratford Lodge for their kind hospitality •to the deputies present, also to the Stratford Borough Council for the \ise of the Council Chambers. P.G.M. Bro. Mouutford said it was his intention to give a jewel to the member gLiining the most lady members during the year, which was received with hearty applause. it was also decided that the minutes be confirmed, and that they be printed and circulated to the lodges. At the conclusion of the meeting the delegates were again treated at Mr Beaumont’s rooms to light refreshments.