ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1922, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

TARANAKI DISTRICT M.U.1.0.0.F. HELF-YEARLY MEETING. The half-yearly meeting of the above society was held at Stratford on Saturday, when the district grandmaster (Bro. A. L. Roberts) presided. The other members present were P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant (Waitara), D.D.G.M. Bro. R. S. Sage (Hawera.), P.P.G.M. Bro. W. A. Spragg (Hawera), P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole (Stratford), P.P.G.M. Bro. R. G. Steer (Midhirst), P.O. Bro. H. McGahey (New Plymouth), P.G. Bro. J. Bates (Eltham) and the district secretary (Bro. G. S. Papps). An apology was received from P.P.G.M. Bro. J. W. Snowdon (Manaia).

The district grandmaster, in opening, gave a full account of the meeting of the board of directors of the New Zealand branch recently held in Wellington, and also reported on the visits of , the district officers to the various .lodges, stating ■ that matters generally ,were in a flourishing condition. .Special mention was made as to the progress of the Hawera, New Plymouth and Kaponga lodges.

The district secretary submitted the half-yearly statement of the finances of the district, the principal items being as follows: Sick and funeral funds, contributions £867 17s 4d. interest £B4l 6s Id, refunds £lBO. The expenditure was sick pay £720 10s, funeral benefits £2lO, levies £226. This gave a credit balance of £38,470 Ils 2d, an increase of £732 13s 5d for the half-year. The management funds received contributions £560 8s 6d, levies £46, and initiation fees £5 12s 6d, and expended £406 7s 3d. fo'r medical attendance, £145 salaries and £67 sundries, this showing a credit balance of £455 2s Id. During the half-year £246 was paid out to the wives of members, on account of maternity bonuses, of which £lBO had been refunded by the National Provident Fund.

It was resolved to’hold a combined picnic of the Taranaki lodges at Ngamotu beach early in March and the district G.M. and secretary were appointed to interview the railway authorities in connection with a special train for the occasion.

The district rules were eonaidered and amendments to make the same conform to the requirements of the Registrar of Friendly Societies were passed. Intimation was received from the central body that the Auckland system of advancing funds to members to erect houses was to be adopted by the society as a basis for investment of capital and that the tables of repayments were to be forwarded to all districts. Tn view of a proposal to compile a review of the early history and progress of oddfellowship in the Dominion, a. request was received that any information, either in manuscript or print, relating to the establishment of lodges and districts possessed by members, lodges or districts, be forwarded to the grand secretary as parly as possible.

The New Zealand grand secretary forwarded the following resolution as unanimously passed by the board of directors at Wellington: “That a letter of appreciation be sent to Bro. G. S. Papns. district secretary of the Taranaki district, for his successful efforts in clearing up the affairs and accounts of the district.” This was received, and a similar resolution was passed by the meeting. It was resolved that a special meeting be held early in February to consider the various balance sheets and returns from lodges.