I.O.O.F., M.U.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 86, 17 March 1916, Page 2

1.0.0. F., M.U.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The Annual Conference in connection with the Manchester Unity, Independent Older of Oddfellows, took place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Manaia, yesterday, when the following Deputies from the various Lodges in the Taranaki District were present:— Egmont.- P.P.G.M. Bro. Ainsworth, P.G.'s Bros. A. Hooker, J. Toms, and C. Grant. Excelsior—P.P.G.M. Bro. W. F. Brooking, P.G.'s Pros. A. L. Roberts and L. L. Little. Waitara.—P.P.G.M. Bros. Brabant and X.G. Sister Bernsten. Midhirst.—P.P.G.M.'s Bros. W. Mountford and R. J. Hancock. Stratford.—P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole and P.G. Bros. T. Lawson. Toko.—P.G. Bros. M. Gernhoefer. Eltham.—P.G. Bro. Scown. Hawera.—P.G.'s Bros. Pratt, Hancock and Spragg. Manaia.—P.P.G.M. Bro. Snowdon and P.G.'s Short and Cunningham. Kaponga.— P.G.'s Bros. Dagg and Bates. Opunake.—Not represented. The District Officers were:—Grand Master Bro. E. H. Bellringer 'pre-1 siding); Deputy Pro. Grand • Master, Bro. C. W. Allen; Warden, P.P.G.M. Bro. Brabant; Corresponding Secretary P.P.G.M. Bro. C. E. Bellringer. DISTRICT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' REPORT. HP**-- , The following is the District and Executive Officers' Report for the year 1015 ;-

In presenting our annual report for the year lately ended we desire to say that whilst the year has in many respects been a prosperous and happy one, the shadow of the Great War has loomed largely over our work. Comparatively few members have been initiated, slightly more than one-half the number who joined in 1914 were admitted during the year just past, but this was only to be expected in view of the great demands..made on our young men and' of the necessity on our part of proceeding with extreme caution. The financial position has called for.tha-.wtmost .consideration, as in admitting new members under existing conditions vmknown ( liabilities have to be thought about. The District Officers have visited every Lodge in the district, and have' everywhere niet the kindliest of weU comes. Some Lodges were well attended) others had but, a scant number present. , The best meetings were held at Stratford, Kaponga, Manaia, Hawera and Waitara. The books of the several Lodges have been closely examined, and on the whole were found in a .satisfactory state. The rate of interest has been good, and money is in good demand" for investment. ....

[The questions to be submitted for. consideration almost entirely centre 'on the war. They will call for the 'most thoughtful •consideration. We fare asked to indicate to the coming ißiennial Moveable Conference to be itield at Oreymouth on the 24th April Inext, our mind on the very important matters coming hefore that gather* jing. We have no doubt that everyone present will give the most careIful thought to the difficult problems that call for solution. The Grand Master and Board of Directors endeavoured to-effect a reinsurance of Funeral Benefits For members at or going to the seat ol (war. but after negotiations had pro[ceeded for some time the Insurance jCompany affected declined the proposal on the original basis, asking for a much higher premium. In the end we think that the ' Sew Zealand Branch will not suffer by the falling through of the proposal. The following extract from the leading article in the ' Oddfellows' iMagazine for January, 191(5, is, we Ithink, worthy of notice:— I. "It would be wickedly foolish not [to look the position as to war liabilities squarely in the face. The war is I going to involve heavy sacrifices, on the part of members, and the sooner we brace ourselves to meet the inevitable strain the better for ourselves 'and for the society. The Manchester (Unity is a mutual society. Every member holds an equal position as to its funds and benefits, whether, he is j Grand Master or the youngest and humblest member, and as we possess equal rights it should be our pleasure, as it is our duty, to equally (share the liabilities and the sacrifices which war will entail, ft was in that 'spirit the A.M.C. decided to make a 'fixed proportion of the war claims an 'obligation upon the "hole society, land'it is by steadfastly and resolutely 1 continuing'on those lines that the Manchester Cnity will succeed in winning through the most severe test, [which it has ever had to meet, j •«•« W e "ill take into consideration I the cimimst.-mees of the year, the ificrures both as to numerical progress land finances are satisfactory. In a year'when the country had been at war for five month,, 21,1 IS members [were admitted into our lodges at Home, while the Colonial districts recorded an increase of 8566 member's. Then on the financial side the. Unity added £392,558 Us 6d to its capital, bringing the aggregate to £16.824,46, o. (id There is a clear, impehative duty of every good Oddfellow to-day. It is to put the claims of the, society hefore his friends as the best friendly society to join; a society winch has the accumulated experience of more thaii 100 years to guide it ; a society which is mutual in its basis; u society which gives the fullest rights of management to every member. I here was never greater need for men and women and children to insure against

the contingency of sickness; there is no hotter society through which the insurance can be mad©.

"We are passing through clays ofj gloom; depression hangs heavily upon many by the failures and the unrealised hopes of 1915.; but with a spirit of courage and determination we are going to win through as a nation, and to rejoice in the happier and brighter days to come. What is true of the nation is equally true of j the Manchester Unity. We are passing through dark days; there is do-| pression hanging heavily over inany : minds; the quajity required is hard, but cheerful work to carry us onward and upward to even greater successes; when smiling peace once more reigns supreme." Financially the year has been exceptionally prosperous. The Sick Funds of Lodges amount to £32,499, 8s sd, and the Management, Funds to £154 5s 4d. The grand total of] Lodge and District Funds as set forth, in the attached statement being £33,-j 102 9s 3(1, showing an increase of, £1713 4s 2d. The receipts on account of the Sick and Funeral Fund amounted to £3528 13s lOd, Management b'unds £749 18s 2d, Medical Funds £1361 13s 6d, making a total of £5613 5s (id. The expenditure for Sickness Benefits was £IO7B 2s 2d, an increase of £3O Gs 2d, Funeral Benefits £IOO or. £9O less than last year. This, how- j ever, does'not'take into account a number of Soldiers' Funeral claims that have been dealt with since the] end of the year. Medical Benefits, cost £1326 4s'l;od. ; The total benefits paid jfor amounting to £2504 7s 04. j The a'mount »f the District Assessment; to the Central Funeral Fund was £684 Is Hd. The total oontribu-! tionsjtq this Fund have been £3554 17s lid, and the Benefits received £ll3O. ' ' : -1 L A return will be laid before you showing as far as can be ascertained that 107 of our -members have enlist- 1 ed and are now at the front or ■itn camp. Nine have laid down their, lives for King and Country. We honotfij the imemory of th e braye who wer e faithful even unto death., FORMAL WELCOME, "itCJ On arrival ;nt Manain, the I )eptities were at li'gn't refreshments, and-Mr Craig (in the absence' of the Chairman*of the Manaia Town Board) formally welcomed the Delegates to Martina, the Corresponding Secretary (Bro. C. E. Bellringer) returned thanks on behalf of the delegates. THE BUSINESS. P.P.G.M. Bio. R. J. Hancock was elected minute secretary. The report of the District Executive and Auditor's Report and Balancesheets were adopted. A Notice of Motion by the Loyal Manaia Lodge "That this Lodge suggests to the "District Delegates that Lodges be advised not to admit any new male members during the continuance of the war," came in for considerable discussion. P.P.G.M. Bio. in support of the ■ motion on behalf of tlie Manaia Lodge- On being put the motion was declared lost by a large majority.

A resolution was passed to the effect that the B.M.C. initiate a scheme in order to cover a prospective liability of Lodges in regard to the sick pay of returned soldiers.—■ Carried. Mover by Deputy Ainsworth: "That a circular letter he issued to every Lodge in the district with a view of collecting from the mem hers of the whole of the district the sum of 5s per year towaifs the payment of members' fees who are serving at the front.—Carried. The Corresponding Secretary's report on Lodge Management : Funds for tlie year 1914, was read and ed.The Loyal Midhirst' Lodge was granted permission to hold its meetings monthly instead of fortnightly. . .A grant of £5 was" passed to a distressed brother of the Manaia Lodge. Deputy Brooking proposed, and Deputy Brabant seconded, "That the District Management Levy be Is per member per quarter for the ensuing year.—Carried. It was decided that the Provincial Corresponding Secretary be the only paid officer of the district, and that his salary be the same as last year. —Carried. . ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Provincial Grand Master.-Prov. D.G.M. C. W. Allen being the only candidate, was declared unanimously elected. Provincial Deputy Grand Master.— PM Bros. Hill, Hooker, Lawson and Sliojt, accepted nomination, and on a ballbt being taken, resulted in favor of F.G. Bro. T. Lj^i"'o^^ fcrat " fort Lodge), the first! ballot. Wlffffj 'District Warden?TO&&flW*». J-. Brabant was re-appointed Warden. 'District Bl °- Bennett was appointed. Book,. Examiner. Corresponding Secretary,' Bro.' C. E.; llel'lriiiger. "> Deputy Lawson'proposed, and 'Deputy Mountford seconded, that the following be appointed to the.Commw.ee of Management.—P.P.G.M.'s p]|T. Ainswor,th, F. Amoore, J. W. Snqwdon, C. D. Sole, .and R, 4. Hancock.—Carried. The following were elected to the office of Director of the New'Zealand Bvanch-rpJ'.q.M.'S Bros F. Amoore,' Aiijsworth and C E. Bellringer. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS FOR 1917, Provincial Grand Master.—Prov. D.G.M. elect. Bro. T. Lawson, Provincial Deputy Grand Master.— P:G.'s Bros. Gernhoefer (Toko), Short (Manaia), Hooker i Egmont), Roberts (Excelsior), Spragg Union), Pratt (Union), C. Hill (Manaia), Scown (Eltham), and L. Brabant (Waitnra). The newly-elected officers were duly installed by P.P.G.M. Bros. C. E. Bellringer, assisted by P.P.G.M: Bro. Brabant.

The Provincial G.M. and Provincial D.G.M. returned thanks to the Brethren, and said they would, as far as in their power, faithfully discharge tho duties of their respective offices. Deputy C. D. Sole proposed, and Deputy Brooking seconded, "That the host thanks, of this meeting he accorded the retiring District Officers for their* past services, and that

P.P.G.M. Bro. E. H. Bellringer be presented with a P.P.G.M.'s Jewel, that his name he placed on the District Merit Hoard, and that he receive the P.P.G.M. Degree."-Carried. The Prov. G.M. (Bro. C. W. Allen) presented a P.P.G.M. Jewel to P.P.G.M. Bro. E. H. Bellringer, who suitably returned thanks. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Loyal Manaia Lodge for the cordial manner in which they had received and entertained the Deputies. Bro.'Snowdon returned thanks on be* half of the .Manaia Lodge. The Corresponding Secretary (Pro. C. E. Bellringer) intimated that it was his intention, owing to business pressure, to resign his position as Corresponding Secretary at the meeting, but owing to the valuation coming on this year, which entailed a considerable amount of time and labour, and would be a hardship on a newly-elected member, he bad decided' to continue office until that was completed. General regret was felt at the impending severance of relations, and it was hoped that the worthy secretary would see fit to continue, his valuable services to the Order. The Delegates were entertained throughout the day in a very pleasing manner, being treated to refresh ments at Messrs tuill and Gee's rooms at morning tea, lunch, and in the afternoon. The Secretary was instructed to' have the minutes of the meeting printed and circulated to the various lodges. The meeting concluded shortly after 4.3(j p.m. .'■..