ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 235, 13 March 1915, Page 5

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT, M.U. The annual conference of the New Plymouth district of the New Zealand Branch 1.0.0.F, Manchester Unity, was Held at Hawera on Thursday. The Mayor of Hawera attended the meeting, and welcomed the deputies, expressing the wish that they might have a pleasant and successful gathering. He also very kindly showed the visitors over the municipal water tower. The meeting was opened l>y Prov. G.M. A. Melville. In his address to the deputies lie made reference to the happy year of office lie Had enjoyed, and urged the members to greater activity in view of the great crisis through which the Empire was passing. The following were present:—Prov. G. M. Bro. A. Melville, Prov. D.G.M. Bro 15. 11. Bellringer,Prov. C. 8. Bro. C. E. Bellringer, Warden, P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant. , The deputies who answered to the roll call were: Egmont Lodge: P.P.G.M. 11. T. Ainswortli, P.P.G. M. G. 11. McGahey, P. G. Archie Hooker, P.G. L. Brabant; Loyal Excelsior Lodge: P.P.G.M. W. F. Brooking, P.G. A. L. Roberts, Elective Secretary Sister M Francis; Waitara, P.P.G.M. F. J. Brabant; Union, Hawera: P.G. C. W. Allen P. G. Spragg, G. M. Barker; Manaia: P.P.G.M. .T. W. Snowdon, P.G. W. Cunningham, P.G. J. F. Short;-Eltham: P.P.G. M. F. Amoore, P.G. T. C. Ktannors, P.G. W. Scown; Midhirst: P.P.G.M. R. J. Hancock, G.M. W. Steer; Stratford: P.P.G. M. C. D. Sole, P.G. J F Hnrston; Toko: GM.M. Gernhoofer; Kaponga: P.G. McMillan, P.G. C. Hill. The Opunakc Lodge was not represented. Reference was made to the presence for the first time of a lady deputy at a District Conference, and the Prov. G.M. gave her a special welcome, and on behalf of the meeting eulogised the Excelsior Lodge for making this new departure in appointing deputies. A letter was read from tlie Registrar of Friendly Societies, stating that the (government were willing to subsidise to the extent of one-half tlio amount paid for insuring the funeral benefit of members who might be on military service. The cdjiference was unanimously of opinion that the financial position of the district was such as to enable it to undertake its own obligation in this respect, and, while thankfully declining the offer, it was decided to inform the registrar that it could not see its way to accept the proffered subsidy. The conference passed a motion setting up a district fund for the payment of the contributions of all members gone or who may go to the war, and empowered the District Management Committee to arrange the necessary details and :!ol lcct the required levy from the lodges. A war relief fund, to be administered by the District Management Committee, was inaugurated, ana members will be invited to contribute sixpence per quarter thereto. The District Executive's report was considered and adopted. DISTRICT OFFICER'S REPORT. The district and executive officers reported that they had visited every lodge in the district, and lad invariably been received with cordiality and respect. The meetings en the whole were well attended, the best being Manaia, with Kaponga, Union, Stratford, Opunake, and Toko in the order or" merit indicated. The accounts and books of the several lodges were closely examined and generally found to be in satisfactory order. There was a fairly keen demand for money, which should materially assist inthe sound investment of the funds. Those lodges having halls still found that they were by no meatM a satisfactory investment. In one case a large wpount • so invested had returned barely one, per cent. The matter of the consolidation of the sick funds of the New Zealand Branch, which loomed so largely at the last meeting, had been settled for many years to come. The unanimous feeling at the AVanganui B.M.C. was that in view of the strong differences of opinion and the very strong opposition shown, it was inadvisable to proceed further with "The war has been prominently before us as Oddfellows. Many of our members have volunteered to serve King and Country in the great struggle now being waged. Arrangements have been made for paying the contributions of these brethren. The matter will come before you for further discussicfn, in connection with correspondence received bearing on the question. In a letter received by one of our secretaries from the Homeland it was stated that over 150,000 members of the Manchester Unity were with the colours; these, in conjunction the brethren 'from the Overseas Dominions, make a contingent of which the Manchester Unity may well be proitd. In view of the numbers who have left us for the seat of war, we would suggest that special efforts be made to obtain new members this year." , The Manchester Unity, as a whole, numbered 1,511,090 members on December 31, 1913, there being an increase of 39,181. The total capital reached the huge, ,sum of £16,431,908, an increase fdf 'tHo year of £306,551. In New Zealand' at the same date, the Order had 24,044 members, with a capital of £745,510.. , The New Zealand Branch numbered 10,082, with funds totalling £510,851; £19,381 was paid for sickness benefits, £3750 for funeral benefits, and £14,037 for-medical attendance and medicine. The past year had in many respects been a prosperous one, although, as far as membership is concerned they had to report a decrease in the number of members.. At the beginning of the year there were 1143 members, at the end of the year there were 1140, 1094 males and 40 females, showing a decrease of three. The admissions numbered 87, all being males; 82 members left by arrears, four by clearance, and four died, a total of 90. Six members' wives died during the year. The financial position was very satisfactory. The sick funds of t:ic lodges totalled .€30,884 18s Od, and the management funds £lO2 17s lOd; the grand total of funds, as sot forth in the attached statement, being £31,390 15s Id. The receipts on account of the sick and funeral funds were £3491 7s lid, management funds £OO4 2s sd, medical fund £1351 13s 7d, a total of £5447 3s lid. The expenditure for sickness benefit amounted to £1057 10s, an increase of £75 3s lid; funeral benefits £l6O, or £SO less than for the previous year. Medical attendance and medicines cost £1351 13s 7d, the total paid for benefits being £2509 9s 7d. The total value of all funds was £31,390 15s Id, an increase of £1366 14s lOd. The amount of the district assessment to the Central Funeral Fund for the year was £7OO 15s Bd, the total contributions to this fund having been £2870 10s sd, and the benefits received £9OO. The Management Committee will prepare special rules to be submitted to the next annual meeting. A benevolent vote to a brother who was suffering from an incurable infirmity was increased to 10, and it was decided to defray the cost of a new set of books for the Loyal Toko Lodge, the books having been .consumed in a fire. The auditors' report and balance sheets were considered and adopted. • The management levy was fixed at tenpence per member per quarter. The officers elected were: Prov. G.M. Bro. E. H. Bellringer, New Plymouth; Prov. D.G.M., Bro. C. W. Allen, Hawera; Warden P.P.G.M., Bro. F. J. Brabant, Waitara; auditor, P.P.G.M. Bro W. F. Brooking; Committee of management, the officers ex officio and P.P.G.M's F. Amoore, H. T. Ainswortli, R. J. Hancock, C. D. Sole, and J. W. Snowdon. P.P.G.M. F. Amoore was nominated as D.G.M. of the New Zealand Branch,

and P.P.G.M.'s F. Amoore, C. D ;*'• A - Mclrille, and PJG.M. C.' , "P'lringcr, were nominated, for Board of Directors. , The following nominations' were madsf'T district officers for 1916: Prov. Q.M,< Prov. DGM Allen; Prov. D.G.M.! Pasfc ; Grands L Brabant, Y. Lawson, T. C. 1 l , m V\ Arel " e Hooker > F - Short, C.' ; H, ». » Scown, and A. L. Roberts. : s Manaia was, unanimously selected flii - the place for the 1918 conference. * i A vote of sympathy with P.G.M. John ■ Clark, of the New Zealand Branch, was * passed, the brethren standing as a wa'k ' of sympathy with Bro. Clark in fireat loss he lias sustained in the deatli i of Mrs. Clark. I! The Hawera brethren were thanked for their kindness in making the arraflW'l " '" ent the conference and entertaining A ~ the officers and deputies. A presentation of a small memento sub- i scribed for by the brethren present was 1 ' miwle to Sister M. Francis to mark her 9 , attendance as the first lady deputy. • The retiring Prov. G.M. was thanked * ' r!'?» s " viee9 ' arl(l presented with a,3 > i'.P.G.M. jewel. ; The officers elect were duly installed, ? . and returned thanks for the honor con- , ferred 011 them. • V3|