ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 331, 5 March 1910, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

DISTRICT MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth district of the New Zealand branch, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held at Elfnam on Thursday. The meeting was opened by Prov. G.M. Bro. W. J. Cleland at 9.30 a.m., every lodge being fully represented. There were present:—Officers: Prov. G.M. Bro. W. J. Cleland; Prov. D.G.M. Bro. F. E. Hardy; Prov. C.S. Bro. C. E. Bellringer; Warden P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant. Deputies: Loyal Egmo*t Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. Harris Ford, P.G. Bro. W. H. Butler, P.G. Bro. L. F. Webster, P.P.G.M. Bro. H, T. Ainsworth; Loyal Excelsior Lodge, P.G. Bro. E. H. Bellringer, P.G. Bro. T. J. West, N.G. Bro. R. J. Clark; Loyal Waitara Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant; Loyal Union Lodge (Hawera), P.G. Bro. C. is. Smith, Per. Sec. Bro. J. E. Co well, E. Sec. Bro. P.M. Pratt; Loyal Manaia Lodge, P.G. Bro. J. W. Snowden, P.G. Bro. H. Hill, G.M. Bro. C. Schnell; Loyal Eltham Lodge, . iP.P.G.M. Bro. F. Amoore, P.G. Bro. W. G. Scown, N.G. Bro. C. A. Carlson; Loval Midhirst Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. R. J. Hancock, P.G. Bro. "W. Mountford; Loyal Btratford Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole, P.G. Bro. S. G. Burgess, N.G. Bro. T. Partridge; Loyal Toko Lodge, Per. Sec. R. E. Simmons; Loyal Opunake Lodge, N.G. Bro. R. Thomas; Loyal Kaponga Lodge, P.G. Bro. A. Melville, P.G. Bro. MacMjllan. DISTRICT OFFICERS' REPORT. The district and examining officers' report" for the year stated that they had visited every lodge in the district, and -were glad to tfna' all working harmoniottsly and "with, in almost eve r y case, gratifying success. The best attended lodges were the Loyal Stratford, Kaponga and Manaia Lodges, and they congratulated the members of these lodges on the interest and zeal displayed in the welfare of their respective lodges. The --district had made progress financially and numerically. There had been an increase of 36 male members and 38 female members, a total of 74 members. One hundred and thirty males and 3S females were admitted. The number of secession was still too large, 84 members having left and 10 members and two members' wives died. The district now numbered 1036 males and 38 female members. The sick and funeral fund of lodges at the end of the year amounted, to £22,527 2s 10dl The "receipts were: Sick, and funeral fund £2893 0s 4d, medical and' management fund £2Oll, as sd, total £4904 3s 9d. The expenditure i •was £1990 10s 6d in the sick and funeral fund and £1503 lis 8d in the medical and management fund. The increase on these funds combined was £l4lO is 7d. The payments for sick benefits formed a record in the history of the district, being just under the sum of £IOOO, to be exact, £994 15s 2d. The death record, too, had been heavy, £250 having been paid and there were claims for £6O to be met. 'ln addition, £3O was paid since the end of the year. Xhe amount paid for medical fees was £.1003 17s Bd. The total value of all the funds was £24,043 12s Sd. an increase of £1490.

A resolution was passed expressing regret that the clauses which were intended to secure sound rates of contributions had been eliminated, from the new Friendly Societies Act, and requesting the Government to introduce an amending Act next' session ;' to restore these clauses. It was decided after a full discussion to postpone the centenary picnic until November, owing to Anniversary Day this year falling in the same week as Easter Monday. The delegates from the different centres were unanimously of opinion that it would he impossible to get the two holidays in the one week. The meeting placed on record its high appreciation of the services of the late P.P.G.M. Bro. J. Ward, as district treasurer. A framed portrait is to be placed in the lodge room. The election of district officers resulted in the/ election of the following : Prov. G.M., Bro. F. E. Hardy, Eltham; •Prov. Deputv G.M., Bro. S. G. Burgess, Stratford; treasurer, P.P.G.M. Bro. F. R. Pepperell, New Plymouth; W;irden. P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant, Waitara; auditors, P.P.G.M. Bro. John Bennett ana P.G. Bro. W. H. Butler. Deputies to the biennial movable committee meeting to be held at Napier next Easter are P.P.G.M. Bro. F. Amoore, P.P.G.M. I Bro. H. T. Ainsworth and Prov. G.¥. Bro. F. E. Hardy. District cornmitte, the district officers and P.P.G.M.'s Bro. H. T. Ainsworth, F. Amoore, C. D. Sole, Prov. G.M. Bi». W. J. Cleland, P.G. Bro. Melville and P.G. Bro. AV. Mountford. The reports on the funeral fund and management 'fund wiere adopted. Motions for the amendment of district rules, including one for reverting to half-yearly meetings of the district, were lost. The scheme submitted by the Grand Master and board of directors for increasing the funeral benefit were approved of. , A lengthy and animated debate took ( place on the proposed centralisation of the sick and funeral funds of lodges. It was unanimously agreed to oppose the : centralisation of the sick funds. A motion postponing the consideration of the i centralisation of the funeral fund wns i defeated, an amendment moved by !'P.P.G.M. Bro. Amoore being, carried in favor of the proposal. The following nominations were made for district officers i'or 1011:—Prov. j G.M... Bro. S. Burgess*, Prov. D.G.M. elect; Prov. Deputy Grand Master; i Past Grands, J. W. Snowden. W. Mounti ford, W. H. Butler, L. F. Webster. C. I Matheson, C. S. Smith, E. H. Bellrinjer and A. Melville. Hawera was chosen as the place of meeting for 1911. The newly-elected officers wore duly installed bv' Prov. G.M. Bro. AV. J. Cleland, and thanked the deputies for conferring the honors of office upon them. A heartv votp of thanks was accorded P.P.G.M. Bro. AV. J. Cleland for his services as Prov. G.M. and a P.P.G.M.'s gold jewel was presented to him. j The thanks of the meeting were ar- , corded, bv acclamation, to the Eltham j brethren for their kindness in entertain- , ing the deputies.