ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 198, 19 February 1914, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

WELLINGTON /DISTRICT MEETING. SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Pahiatua, Tuesday. The annua! conference of the Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, for Wellington district opened this afternoon. Nearly -10 delegates attended. Mr. ,L A. Boake, Provincial Grand Master, presided. The membership for the district is now 2241), an increase of 42; the total funds, .CI1410; sick and funeral credit, £4202; <oan fund, £5075. The finances were considered very satisfactory. The report of the district hook examiner evoked considerable discussion. The next annual meeting will he •held at Eketahuna. Special mention was made of the energy of the Masterton Lodge. The Grand Master in his address referred to the last report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, which stated that sooner or later the State must come in with some scheme. He warned the conference to he very careful, instancing that the benefits of national insurance at Home had been very much less than anticipated, the. medical benefits having been taken from the friendly societies. The (irand Master abio dealt with certain remarks al the Auckland Medical Congress, that some friendly societies were on the verge of bankruptcy, and unless the Act were amended it was only a matter of time with others. The speaker expressed himself against any such scheme. He was a great believer in lodges managing their own affairs, as they had done so successfully in the past.