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

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 7

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

NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth district 1.0.0.F.M.U. was held at Hawera on Thursday, the District Grand Master, Bro. H. Hill, presiding, with .Deputy G.M. Bro. R. Steer in the vice chair. The lodges were represented as follows:—Egmont: P.P.G.M. Bro. G. McGahey, P.G.’s Bro. H. McGahey, Bro. T. R. Clow and Archie Hooker. Excelsior: P.P.G.M. Bro. A. L. Roberts, P.G. Bro. A. G. Mason and N.G. Bro. A. P. Markham. Waitara: P.P.G.M.’s Bros. Brabant and Bent. Manaia: P.P.G.M. Bro. J. W. Snowden, P.G. Bro. S. Bennett and Secretary Bro. T. Hotter. . Union: P.P.G.M.’s Bros. Alien and Spragg and P.G. Bro. R. S. Sage. Eltham: P.G.’s Bros. T. C. Stauners and H. Nuttall, G.M. Sister E. Waters, and Secretary Sister W. Hendrickson. Midhirst: P.G. Brg. Bell, N.G. Bro. T. Vickers. Stratford: P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole and P.G. Bro. S. Thompson. Kaponga: P.G.’s Bro. Dagg and Shepherd. Toko: P.G. Bro. Steer. The conference was welcomed to Hawera by the Mayor (Mr. E. Dixon), who was thanked for his address and given lodge honors. The grandmaster addressed the meeting, making reference to the progress of the Order generally and the New Plymouth district in particular.

The district officer’s report expressed regret that, owing to the default of several lodges in forwarding returns, the customary tables were not forthcoming. Reference was made to the correspondence received from the Registrar of Friendly Societies and the New Zealand branch in connection with the delay in forwarding annual returns in previous years. It was reported that appropriations of surplus capital were made by the Loyal Excelsior and Waitara lodges with most satisfactory results, as in many cases the funeral benefits off members were largely increased and the whole of their sick and funeral duerf were remitted Appropriations for management purposes were alfio made by Eltham (£76) and Kaponga (£5O). During the year complete amendments of rules were made by the Excelsior and Waitara lodges, while amendments, incorporating alterations to the National Provident rules, as affecting the district were also registered. Mention was made by the loss sustained to the district by the resignations of Bro. A. G. Bennett as secretary of the Manaia Lodge, and Bro. L. Little, secretary of the Excelsior Lodge; also that of P.P.G.M. Harris Ford, who had completed fifty years’ service as treasurer of the Loyal Egmont Lodge. It was stated that a considerable number of claims for sick pay for members while on active service had been dealt with, and that those outstanding would come before the next meeting of the Boafd of Directors. During the year £lB2 had been refunded to the lodges on account of maternity refunds and £260 for funeral benefits.

After the district secretary, Bro. G. S. Papps, addressed the conference on matters contained in the report, it was resolved, on the recommendation of the committee, that the lodge examiners take all books where necessary and make the needed adjustments and corrections, the cost to be borne by the lodges concerned. It was resolved to accept the invitation of the Loyal Eltham Lodge to a special initiation meeting on March 30, and also to invite the New Zealand (handmaster Bro. W. Thomas, of Auckland, to the function.

A complete revision of the district rules were submitted by the management committee, and after considerable discussion finally adopted.

The district books examiners (Bro. A. L. Roberts and G. S. Papps) submitted their report,, which was adopted, and a motion wg,s passed expressing the thanks of the district for the manner in which they had carried out their duties.

The following officers were duly elected: District Bro. R. Steer; D.G.M. Bro., H. Nuttall; warden, P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant; treasurer, P.G. Bro. L. Little; management committee: P.P. G/M.’s Bros. G. McGahey, C. D. Sole, F. J. Brabant, P.G.’s Bros. Dagg, R. S. Sage and Gernhoffer; book examiners, Bros. A. L. Roberts and R. S. Sage; auditors, Bros. G. McGahey and A. G. Mason.

P.P.G.M. Bro. Grahagen, of the North Canterbury district, was nominated as the N.Z. Grandmaster, and District Secretary Bro. Shrimpton, of Nelson, as N.Z. Deputy Grandmaster. P.P.G.M. Bro. A. L. Roberts was nominated as a number of the Board of Directors The following were nominated for office for year 1922: Grandmaster Bro. H. Nuttall (Eltham), Deputy Grandmaster P.G.’s Bro. C. Betts (Kaponga), S. J. Bennett (Kaponga), T. Clow (Egmont), L. Little (Excelsior), A. Hooker (Egmont), R. S, Sage (Union), M. Gernhoffer (Toko), Sister W, Hendrickson (Eltham), and Sister G. Brabant (Waitara). was fixed as the place of meeting for 1962. The Hawera Lodge received the hearty thanks of the meeting for hospitality. The newly elected officers were duly installed, P.P.G.M. Bro. A. L. Roberts, assisted by P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant, acting as installation officers.

The retiring Grandmaster, Bro. H. Hill, was thanked for his services, and was the recipient of a jewel emblem. It was resolved to place on record the appreciation of the district of the services rendered by the retiring treasurer, P.P.G.M. Bro. F. Pepperell.