INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 21 February 1907, Page 2

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES.

WKDNKSJUY'S SITTING

The Council re-assembled at ten o'clock, when the minutes of the previous day were read and confirmed.

Aged members and their payments was a matter brought up by two tents. Bro. Partridge (Carterton) proposed "that a levy be struck for the purpose of forming a fund to assist aged members who have, a difficulty in paying their contributions. That live years elapse after paying the levy before the fund is available." The Masterton representatives proposal was "that a levy of sixpence per mom her be struck to form a fund to help needy members of the Order, and to pay the contributions of needy members who require il, and the moneys in trie District Contingent and Benevolent Funds be pa d to tills new fund." The principal involved met with general supporl, and it was decided "1 ha I it had been an instruct on to the District Officers to at once establish a fund in accord with rule 21; thai the fund at present known us Benevolent Fund become a nucleus of this fund.''

A proposition emanated from the Gisborne Tent as follow*: "That a Keehabite magazine he established in tin; Mew Zealand Central District. — After diseus.-ii>i], tin? following motio'i was carried: "That this District accepts "the oll'cr of the proprietors ot the Watchword; and pays £lO per a a nuin for two years as a bonus for the use of the pages sot apart for the use of the 1.0. K., and that the District Oflicers see that the reading matter is supplied to I],l our columns in the paper." An important proposal was made by the (iisborne Tent, that n Central Sick Kund be established in Ihe New Zealand Central District, and making provision for ways and means. AFTERNOON'S SITTING.

The Council resumed at 2 p.m., when ihe discussion on the question of centralisation of the sick funds was resumed. , Bro. Whitaker moved an amendment to make consolidation optional. Kro. Fraser seconded the amendment.

After considerable discussion the amendment was carried, thus becoming the proposition. Bro. .Stead moved a further amendment, deferring the matter for two years, the question in the meantime to he discus cd by (he Tent and again raised next Council meeting. Bro. JSa'stbojie seconded the amendment pro forma. The amendment was lost on division by :iS to 21. Tiro. Fathers propo-ed another amendment as follows: —"That when any number ot" Tent-; noi, less than live express a desire to establish a Central Sick l-'und, such fund be established, and that the sick funds of such Tent be handed over to the District Ollicers co start such Central Sick Fund, and tluvt all new Tents belong to the Central Sick Fund, and that the District Ollicers take control of such Fund." This amendment was seconded by Bro. (Jaudin. Alter discussion, the amendment was carried on the voices, and becoming the substantive motion was carried unanimously.

The, report of the Committee on the subject of amalgamation with the Aiuekland Central Districts was laid on ihe tabic a.s follows: — The Committee appointed to consider "ih«s question of amalgamation have pleasure in submitting the following as a basis to In; submitted to the. Tents /'or consideration: (1) Scale of p^.V*

incuts for sick benelits—Kecommcndcd that the Auckland scale of contribution (hereunder) be adopted, and that Aw age of admitting} ne!W members shall bo limited to 40 years, and that half sickness heiictita be granted after six months' membership. The following is the graduated scale of quarterly subscriptions* suggested: —Age at entry, last birthday 10, subscription 5/; I; 17, :>/;>; 18, 0/li- 10,5/10; 20, 0/0; 21, G/;i; 22, <5/5; U, 0/8; 25, 0/10; 20. 7/1. 27, 7/4; 28, 7/7; 21), 7/ 10; 30, 8/1J ;;i, S/fi; 32, S/t); 33. i)/0; 34, D/-1; 30, 0/8; 30, 10/1; 37, 10/."); 38, 10/10; 30, 11/3, -10, 11/0. Funeral Fund Benelits - Ivccommended that payments already

adopted by INo. SO district, which insure members for the suui of £3O, with the option of allowing members to draw the sum'of £lO be retained, and that the table on page 14 of the business paper re insurance be adopted.

Should the>e recommendations receive thee onsent of the Council it is an instruction that the proposal* be considered by every Tent not. later than June summoned* meeting, the result of the voting to be forwarded to the District Ollicers. In the event ol a majority of the Tents' members in the two districts agreeing to these proposals tins District Ollicers meet and prepare a set of rules for ratification as soon as possible Bro. Father> moved the adoptiou ol the report. This wa* >eeonded by Bro. Stead and carried. The matter of increase of funeral benelits loomed large on the order paper no less tliiin six Tents having proposals on I lie tjuestion, but these resolutions lapsed, owing to thq dealt with in the amalgamation >che!ne.

Acting on instructions irom the last District Meeting, the District Ollicers laid before the representatives a table ol clearance values—The matter was postponed until next District Meeting. It was resolved to hold \ho next meeting at Masterton i <

It wari resolved that valuation be taken by the , Tlie Levies Committee recommended' a continuance of the present levy l-'/iil

pel' member. The eleetion oi officers resulted: District (jhief :Bro. J- (, ''<bT (.Nelson); District Deputy Ruler, Jiro .1. We.-ney ( luvercargill); District Secretary, Bro. I'.JI. l'raser (Wellington); IJhjti'icl Treasurer, Bro. O. \\ . Leslie (Wellington); District Superintendent, of .Juvenile .IJianclies, Jiro. T. Jj'athers (Wellington); 'District Audito'r, JJi'uW. Ji. Nicholls (Wellington). ,

KYKNISIi tfITXINU. The. ('(inference concluded la*t night (repoit held over). To-day the delegat are being taken for a trip to the mountain.