ODDFELLOWS IN CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10006, 31 March 1910, Page 5

ODDFELLOWS IN CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. ' NAPIER, March 3. The meeting of the Bi-ennial Movable Committee of the New Zealand branch of ihe Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was continued to-day. It wab resolved that the coming into operation of the central funeral fund be left in the hands of the Grand Master and Board of Directors, and that they have power to alter, or add to any rules as may be suggested by the Registrar. It was resolved "That the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, New Zealand Branch, desires to place on record an expression of its extreme regret and disappointment at the deletion of clauses 15 and 16 in the Friendly Societies' Consolidation Bill, 1908; that it trusts the Government will, in response to the request of a very largely preponderating majority of Friendly the Dominion, , take an early opportunity of introducing an amendment of the Friendly Societies' Act by incoroprating the principles of clauses 15 and 16 as being eminently desirable in order to promote the usefulness and stability of Friendly Societies, and to prevent organisations, which are making no pretensions to financial solvency, undertaking the obligations which actuarial experience has amply demonstrated cannot but prove disastrous to their membership and consequently injurious to Friendly Societies generally." It was resolved that a scheme for increased funeral benefit, with a table of contributions, to be supplied to the Grand Master and Board of Directors by the Registrar of Friendly Societies be approved. A remit from the Wellington District was moved as follows:—"That this meeting is favourable to the establishment of a Central Sick Fund, and recommends the Grand Master and Board of Directors to bring forward a scheme for establishing such fund in connection with the New Zealand branch." As an amendment it was moved "That it be recommended to the Grand Master and Board ot Directors to have a report made by the Actuary on the qupstion of spreading the liability , for sickness so that each Lodge shall pay an average experience of sickness in the New Zealand branches as ascertained by quinquennial valuation , proportion of sickness claims, which ] have been paid by Lodges above or . below such averpges, to collected from or distributed to such Lodges by the j New Zealand branch, while leaving sick funds in control of respective Lodges." The amendment was car-

ried unanimously. The next meeting was fixed to be held on Easter Monday, April Bth, 1912. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Grand Master, Bro. C. E Bellringer, New Plymouth; Deputy Grand Master, Bro. Johri Ulark, Auckland; Corresponding Secretary, Bro. Kershaw (re-elected); Treasurer, Bro, G. E. Godfrey (re-elec-ted) ; Auditor, Bro. T. S. Powell (re-elected); Directors, Bros. P. Amoore, A. N. Batchelor. J. B. Fielder* D. P. Loasby, G. VV. Sellars, and John Smith; Parliamentary Agent, Bro. Kershaw. An invitation from the Ashley District to hold the next bi-ennial meeting in ; Christchurch was accepted. The mcetiig has concluded.