MASTERTON FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9158, 4 August 1908, Page 7

MASTERTON FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' COUNCIL.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is the annual report of the secretary (Mr S. Deugarde) of the Friendly Societies' Council, to be presented to the annual meeting on August 17th -.—When the present Council was formed a year ago, the opinion was expressed by a lot of pessimistic lodge members, who, no uoubt had in mind the failure of previous Councils, that no good would be accomplished, and that the lodges were only wasting money in affiliation fees. Fortunately, however, the lodges had appointed delegates to the present Council, who went with the intention of working, both for the interests of their own particular Societies, and for the good of the lodges generally, and, after reading what this Council has accomplished during one year, you will agree with me that it has more than justified its existence. The first business meeting of the Council was held on September 2nd, 1907, when officers were elected, and at the following meeting a set of rules were adopted. At a meting held on October 14th, 1907, a mjtion was carried affirming the desirability of having Drs Cook and Cowie placed on the active medical staff of the Hospital, so that those two gentlemen could attend their own patients when in the Hospital, and a committee, consisting of one delegate from each Society, was appointed to wait on the Hospital Trustees to urge the necessity of this step. Meeting with no success at the hands of the Trustees, the Council determined to phce a Friendly Societies' representative on the Hospital Trust, and at the annual meeting of subscribers Mr 11. J. O'Leary, President of the Council, was elected as a subscribers' representative on the Hospital Trustees Board. Shortly afterwards the question of the medical staff was reopened by the Council, another deputation was sent to the Hospital Trustees, with the result that Urs Cook and Cowie are now placed on the active staff, and have the right to send patients to the Hospital and treat them whilst there personally. The next question of importance dealt -with by the Council was the matter of arranging uniform agreements between the various Societies' and the doctors and chemists. After a good real of negotiating,' an agreement, acceptable to both lodges and doctors, a id also an agreement between the chemists and lodges, were adopted, ami are now in force. Every lodge member in Masterton has been provided with a copy of the medical agreement, so that he knows exactly what he ia entitled to receive from his medical officer. At a meeting htld on February 3td. 1908, a scheme was adopted whereby the name of any candidate tor admission to any S'j<it-tv, who is rejected or deterred by the doctor examining him, is sent to the Secretary of th* Council, who in turn notifies all lodges and the other doctors to that effect. By this means it is now impossible for a candidate i ejected by a doctor for one lodge, to enter any other loege, ixlept he be in good health. The next scneme brought to a successful issue by the Council was tl.e holding of a Friendly Societies' Demonstration in aid of che local Hospital. After a lot of preliminary work and organising this was successfully carried oiit on Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th, 1908, and resulted in the sum of £82,18s 8d being handed to the Hospital Trustees, which, with the Government subsidy, meant an addition of £lßl to the.lun.ds of the institution. On March 30th, 1908, a combined Friendly Societies' smoke concert was held, which was one of the largest affairs of its kind ever held in Masterton, and which greatly tended to cement the good fellowship existing between the various Societies. With a view to winding up a very successful year, the Council are now organising a combined lodge social and dance, which takes place on August 20, th, and which promises to be just as successful as all othtr undertakings of a progressive Couicil. here have been fourteen meeting* of the Council (exclusive of committee meetings) held during the yt>ar, 6 and attendances of the--.various delegates have been as follows:—Oddfillows: J. P. Lvall. 13; P. Smith, 14; S. Deugarde, 14. Foresters: V. G Darroch, 12; G. G Johnson, 10; H. P. Brasell, 12. Druids: G. Hood. 13; D Pickering, 10; J. Shackle.ton, 10. Hibernians: H. J. O'Leary, 11; 6. O'Regan, 13; B. Chapman, 6. Rechabites: R. Sutherland, 10; D. Threadwell, 12; VV. M. Easthope, 3; P. Marshall. 2 (elected in May in lieu of W. M. Easthope).