RECHABITE CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3113, 11 February 1909, Page 3

RECHABITE CONFERENCE.

SECOND 1 AY. The biennial Conference of t'.c Independent Order of Eechabites was resumed yesterday morning. In connection with the Central Sick Fund the Excelsior Tent, Wellington, moved: "That all tents shall join the Central Sick Fund." "That the amount standing to the credit 1,1 u.u Sick Pay Guarantee Fund be transferred tj th'J Central Sick Fund." The motion was lost by IS votes to 13. The second clause of the motion was then withdrawn by consent.

Bro. Fathers proposed the following motion: "That from the first day of January, 3 908, all the tents that have by resolution agreed to form the Central Sick Fund, shall by their tent secretaries remit to the District sec- | retary what funds there are in the I Tent Sick Fund; but such tents shall ; be allowed to retain in hand moneys according with the following:— (a) ; Tents with less thin fifty members, £5; (b) tents with more than fifty and less than one hundred, £lO. Tents with over one hundred members such sums as shall be agreed upon between the tents and the District Executive, in order to meet the current liabilities of such tents for sick pay. All fixed investments to remain and be managed by the tents until paid off, then the amounts with interest are to be remitted to the District Secretary, to be placed in the Central Sick Fund. Seretaries shall, at the end of each quarter, forward with the quarterly returns a statement of the sick pay with doctor's certificate attached, also the sick pay contribtions and interest received by the tent. Provided that tents having less in their funds than the amount allowed, or such fund becoming deficient during the quarter, may apply to the District Executive, who shall remit to them from the Central Sick Fund such sums as shall be necessary to bring the amount at credit of the Tent Sick Fund up to the amount allowed to the tents. Any tents instituted prior to 1907 may join the Fund by complying j with the laws that shall from time to I time be made for the government of ( the Central Sick Fund."

The motion was carried unanimous-j ly without discussion. J

The Christchurh Tent had the following motion on the business paper: —"That the amounts standing to the credit of the Sick Fund in all ten tents in this district shall he centralised. (1) That, if practicable, all moneys standing to the credit of the Tent Sick Pay Guarantee Fund be trasferred to the district as a nucleus of a Central Sick Fund. (2) That all moneys standing to the credit of the Sick Fund in the various tents be transferred to the Central Sick Fund as opportunity offers. (3) That all tents shall collect from tneir members the same contributions as were previously paid to the Tent Sick Fund, and shall pay to sick members the same benefits as before. (4) That each quarter, in the event of the Tent reports and i-eturns showing an excess of Dayment for sick benefit over the amount received from members as contributions to the fund, the district secretary shall forward the amount of the difference from the Central Sick Fund, but should the contributions exceed the

amount paid for sick benefit, the tent shall forward the surplus to the district secretary, to be paid by him to the Central Sick Fund, but tents shall be allowed to retain in hand moneys in accordance with the following scale: (a) Tents with less than twenty members, £3; (b) tents with more than twenty members, but less than fifty members, £5; (c) tents with more than fifty members, but less than one hundred members, £10; tencs with over one hundred members, such sum as shall hi agieerfupon between the- tent and the District Executive, in order to meet the current liabilities of such tent for sick pay. (5) That three trustees be appointed to invest the Central Sick Fund on ireehoH se-

curity, first mortgage, in any part of the Dominion, and generally to act as the legal custodians of the fund on behalf of the distrfct. ('•) That all members shall be entitled to a clearance card, and be eligible to affiliate with any other tent in the district without having to undergo any fresh medical examination, wr pay any increase of sick contributions." Bro. Taylor, Christcburcb, stated that as the matter had practically been thrown out on the previous motion, he would ask permission to withdraw the project, which was granted. The Masterton Tent moved:— "That new members receive 10s per week sick pay when six months in the Order, 20s per week when twelve months for one year, and 5s per week af f erwards if the sickness continue." Bro. Heyhoe reeved the motion. Bro. Larritt, Hastings, seconded the motion. The motion was lost on the voices. The committee appointed to consider the advisability of dividing the district into sub-districts brought up their report as follows:—(1) That this committee affirms the desirability of forming sub-districts; (2) objects to take in hand the opening of new tents in their own sub-districts, to help weak tents anj establish juvenile tents whfre practicable, the holding of half-yearly district meetings at which any business arising in the sub-district shall be attended; (3) sub-districts shall consist of North Island (a) New Plymouth to Wanganui inclusive, (b) Wellington to Wanganui. (c) Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay, South Island (d) Nelson, Blenheim, Marlborough and Weatland; (e) Canterbury and Otaga, including Invercargill; (4) that two representatives from each tent form the Sub-District Council; (5) tint the Sub-District Council appoint its own officers who will be without legislative power—officers to consist of Sub-District C.R., D.R., Sec. and Treas., Levite, Guardian; (6) that the expenses of each representative be met by their tents. Bro. Chatterton proposed that the report be adopted, which was seconded by Bro. Buttimore. Bro. Robson proposed, and Bro. A. J. Bennett seconded, the following amendment: "That the question Lj referred back to the Committee for further consideration, and that the matter be discussed at tomorrow morning's session." The amendment was put and carried on division by 3b' vctas to 18.