I.O.O. F., M.U.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1919, Page 5

1.0.0. F., M.U.

ANNUAL DISTRICT CONFERENCE. The annual conference; of the 1.0.0JF, M.U., for the Taranak; district was held at New Plymouth yesterday, P.G.M. Bro. Roberts presiding. The following lodges were represented: Egmont, Excelsior, Union, Manaia, £lth«m, Stratford, Mmhiret and Kaponga.

The visiting officsrs and delegates were welcomed by Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., who spoke in eulogistic terms of the goed work of the Order.

PG.M., Bro. Roberts read his address, in the course of which he congratulated Die district on the progress, and quoted some interesting figures in relation to the Order.

The annual report of the district executive made suitable reference to the members of the Order who had wived at the front, and to those who had fallen. The chief event of the year had been the visit from the G.M. of vhe New Zealand Branch, Bro. F. C. Watt and the general secrotary, Bro. J. Kershaw, in connection with which a largely attended meeting was held at Eltham. The visitors expressed tbeir appreciation c.f the splendid representation of the district. The epidemic made a brief run on the sick and funeral funds of some of the lodges, and regret was expressed at the death of a number of brethren, amongst them being PP.G.M., Bro W.H. Free who since the inception of the Order in Taranaki, in the year ISS7. had beer- one of the pillars of Oddfellowslrip. Other deaths included P. 0.. Bro. J. Harston. V.G. Bro. 'H. T>. Cook. P.O. Bros. F. Colmmi and K. Willis. The report concluded with an pvprcssinn of thanks ib the various lodges for the assistance given to the officers.

The Miction of officers resulted as follows: P.G.M., Bro. Ppra?g; DO.M, Bro- W. Hill; Warden, P.P.G.KT.. Bro. Brabant; C.S., Bro. G. S. Papp*-. District Auditor", Bros. G. I). G..w n»il Sister Oorbie; District Committee, P.P.G M. Bro. Allen, C. D. Role, T. Uwson. P.P.G.M., Snowden, A L Robert* unci the D.G.M-, exoffiY.o, District Book Examiner and Auditor. Bro G. S. Papps, P.P.G.M., Bro. Thomas (Auckland) was nominated as CM. for th« New Zealand Branch, and P.I'G.M Bro. J. Snowden, C. D. Sole and F. Araore a? directors. Application* for the allotment of surplus capital was received and approved from the following lodges: Excelsior £2300. Manaia .-£1471, Kltham £IBO, Kaponga £WO, and Eirmont -■COO. The secretary was voted a bonus of £3O, and it was decided to increase his salary by a similar amount. The retiring VV.CM- was presented with a jewelled emblem It was resolved to hold the next conference at Stratford. At the conclusion of the lodge bns-iness a social leathering wm held, during the course of which * the TP.PGM Bro. Boberts, installed the new .ffieeri. Music, cards and dancin? contributed towards a nv>rt enjoyabli.' evening