MANCHESTER UNITY.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 6

MANCHESTER UNITY.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. INSTALLATION CEREMOJJY. ' The twelfth annual conference of the Auckland District N.Z. Order of Oddfellows, M.U., terminated last night by a successful function held in the "Masonic Hall, Belgium Street. At the afternoon session yesterday the following district officers were elected--! District Deputy Grand Master, Bro V 1). -Oting (unopposedl; Deputy Grand -Master, Bro. W. J. Edwards; Di- atrict Secretary. Bro. John McLeod (tut opposed); District Treasurer, Bro. John Clark (unopposed); District Warden Bro. F. N. Bushell (unopposed); District Trustee, Bro. F. J. Wheatley (un op . posed); District Auditor, Bro. W. McMillan (unopposed); District Committee of Management, Bros. T. Aitken F Hard, W. J. Neels, C. Sweetman 'Y7 Best, W. Thomas, W. Dean, W. G Pitcher, and F. A. Smith. The following were nominated for 1920-2li:—District Grand Master, W. J Edwards. D.D.G.M.; District Deputy Grand Master, Bros. C. Sweetman, W Best, J. C. Perry, R. J. Scott, W. Gubb. District Secretary, Bro John McLeodDistrict Treasurer, Bro. John Clark; District Warden, Bro. F. N. Bushell. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Press for their reports of the conference. The retiring Grand Master, Brother P. A. Syers, was voted a suit of regalia of his rank, a gold jewel and a framed certificate, and received hearty thanks for the valuable services rendered. The presentation was made in a most ini- [ pressive manner by the Grand Master Elect, Brother A. D. Young. Brother P. A. Syers, the retiring Grand Master, presented the representatives of the Loyal Gisborne Lodge with the shield given for the lodge of over 200 members, the Gisborne Lodge having gained a percentage of 12.G members for the past twelve months. A shield was presented to the representatives of the Waitoa Lodge for the greatest increase in membership during the past twelve months, the percentage of increase being 82.2 per cent. The representatives of the lodge returned thanks. A brilliant assemblage gathered at the hall in Belgium Street in the evening to witness the installation of Brother A. D. Young as District Grand Master and Brother W. J. Edwards as District Deputy Grand Master of the Auckland District Manchester Unity Oddfellows. Some 300 brethren of all ranks attended in regalia, and walked into the hall in procession after lady friends were seated. The Grand Masterelect was escorted to the installing officer, and made the usual promises. He was presented by Bro. P. A. Syers with a solid silver christening cup for Ms son and heir from his colleagues of the Management Committee. After his installation be presented Bro. P. A. Syers with a gold medal in slight recognition of valued services. Being his birthday, a presentation was made to Bro. Thomas Aitken, as from the delegates at the annual meeting. Another presentation was also made to Sister Pitcher. The j remainder of the evening was given over to singing and dancing. A motion to divide the district into wards, for the election cf a management committee, was very ably debated. The resolution of the district was against the change, and the motion was lost by a large majority. The" matter of an alteration in regard to the clearance question was referred to the incoming management committee. Bro. W. J. Neels, Immediate Past Grand Master of tiie Auckland district, attended the conference as a visitor, and received a hearty welcome from the delegates. The business paper for the 8.M.C.. to be held in Nelson next month, was left in the hands of the deputies to be elected to that conference. It was unanimously decided, with great applause, that the Auckland district should do all possible to secure the election of P.D.G.M. Bro. T. Aitken a3 Deputy Grand Master of the New Zealand branch. The following deputies were elected to represent the Auckland district at the forthcoming B.M.C.:—Bros. John McLeod, C. H. Ambridge, T. Aitken, W. Thomas, P. A. Syers, W. J. Neels. F. A. Smith. A. D. Young, W. i Dean and D. McMillan. *-._.-