ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 350, 30 March 1910, Page 4

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Xapier, Monday. The biennial movable committee of. the New Zealand branch of Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Mas opened this morning The Grand Master, Bio. James Marshall, in his opening address, said it was a great pleasure to him to preside at such a large and representative meeting. In referring to the progress of the Order, he said it was gratifying to notice that settlement in the North had been closely followed up by the Auckland district in. the way of opening new lodges. The lodges connected with the New Zetland' branch were, on the whole, in a prosperous condition. There had been several applications for permission to appropriate surplus funds to e nil a nee the benefits to members.

A resolution was passed that the meeting viewed with pleasure the affiliation of the North Canterbury district with the New Zealand branch.

The report of the Grand Master and Board of Directors stated that the Unity was making slow but steady progress. One factor that had affected the Unity in New Zealand, in common with other societies, was the wave of depression that had ibeen passing over •the Dominion during the past two or three years. The directors could not help thinking there was a spirit of indifference abroad with reference to making provision for the future. It behoved them to see that friendly societies were not too much endangered by the provisions for relief in cases of age, sickness, and accident made by the Government.. The directors recommended that the <?o-operation of other friendly societies be sought in having those clauses made law that were eliminated from the Friendly Societies Conciliation Act. Reference was made to the approaching centenary of the Unity, and the directors bespoke the earnest consideration of the districts for fittingly celebrating that interesting event. The balance-sheet of the branch was adopted. The receipts of the management fund were shown to be £277 fls. and expenditure £2lO 13s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £GO 15s 9d. The relief fund showed a credit balance of £147 17s 9d. FUNERAL FUNDS. Xapier. Last Night. Tlie meeting of the movable committee of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was continued to-day. The executive were requested to draft a suitable reply to Bro. Sir Joseph Ward's greeting received on the previous evening., Bro. McLeod said that the Puine Minister took a keen interest in the welfare of friendly societies, and he (the speaker) knew personally it was against Sir Joseph's wish that clauses 15 and 18 had been left out of the Consolidated Friendly Societies Act. A proposal from Auckland district to rescind rule 71 and providing for the medical aid fund being kept separate from the management fund was rejected by 21 votes to 11. With reference to the rule dealing with clearances, at the New Ply mouth conference an amendment was made which provided that a member clearing from one lodge to another connected with the Xew Zealand branch should be charged at the same rate of contributions he paid to his previous lodge. Auckland district proposed a further amendment providing that n member -hatl be charged' the rate of contributions in force in Hie lodge receiving the clearance at the age he joined the previous lodge, and shall be exempt from paying entrance money. Tlie proposal evoked a long discussion, the chief argument in favor of the amendment being that it would be more equitable in view of sick benefits not being uniform in several districts. The amendment was adopted with but one dissentient. Deputy Loasl y moved on 'behalf of the directors, -'That it be a recommendation to the movable committee to centralise the funeral funds on a system providing for the establishing of a central society funeral fund bv contributions payable through the d : stricts 011 an equitable graduated scale to be provided by the actuary, suitable for benefits in each district." Denuty Thomas moved as an amendment, "That, this meeting, whilst affirming the princlna? of establishing a central funeral fund, considers that the importance of the subject warrants further consideration of the matter, and that it be deferred for two years." -After a. debate lasting over two hours the amendment was lost by 10 votes to 14. Denuty Loasby's mot'on was then put and carried.