ODDFELLOWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 8

ODDFELLOWS.

MANCHESTER UNITY.

AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. TRIBUTE TO SOCIETY. Attended T>y 100 delegates and officers representing Go lodges from Hokianga 111 the north to Gisborne and Taumarunui in tlio south, the annual conference of the Auckland District Manchester Unity Oddfellows was opened in the Unity Hall this morning. The deliberations of the conference, over which tlie District Grand Master, Mr. F. Hard, is presiding, iire not expected to conclude until tomorrow afternoon. To-morrow night a social gathering will be held, following the installation of the newly elected officers. Welcoming the delegates to the city on behalf of the Mayor, the deputyMayor, Mr. A. J. Entriean, said the Mayor had asked him to say how delighted he had been with the reception accorded him by the Unity conference 311 a previous occasion. "You know," Mr. Entriean added, ' the Mayor is a very busy man, and during- the year he monies into contact witli a good many oddfellows,' but he likes the Manchester brand very much better than the I assorted lots." (Laughter.) Many Benefits. Mr. Entriean recalled that the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was established more than 120 years ago as a British institution with branches throughout the English-speaking world. It had a membership exceeding 1,000,000 and capital in excess of £25,800,000, representing £25 per capita. Its annual benefits paid amounted to £2,200,000, or £2 4/ per member. Established in New Zealand in 1842, the Dominion Order now had a membership af 34,241. with a capital of £1,G52,4!>2, sr over £48 per capita. It paid benefits in New Zealand in 1032 amounting to £110,002, as follows: Sick pay, £54,970; medical attendance and medicine, £55,831; funeral allowances, £8801. The payments to members had been as high !is £3 10/ a week. There were 05 lodges in the Auckland district with a membership of 75G0, and capital exceeding £200,000. Last year the Auckland district paid £13,035 in sickness benefits, £8871 in medical benefits, £3573 in hospital benefits, £254G in maternity allowances, £250 in grants to distressed members, and £1294 in funeral allowances, or a total of £29,571. Social Service. "These figures," commented the deputy-Mayor, "are simply amazing, and reflect the greatest credit on your secretary and your executive officers. 1 take it you are keeping to the good, sound principles of careful administration. No doubt your revenue from investments has suffered serious curtailment because of the lower rate of interest you are now receiving. But you are not anxious to embark 011 any new monetary experiments. I am sure the citizens of Auckland are deeply interested in your Order and will follow your deliberations with attention. You are making a great contribution to our social services by the benefits you are bestowing. We hope your conference will be a great success and that your stay here will be thoroughly enjoyable. Mr -T. S. Brigham, town clerk, also congratulated the Order on its performances and wished the delegates e\ery success in their consultations. For New Candidates. In the course of bis address the lorVo deputies, the District Grand Master referred to the inspiration members derived from the manner in which the Unity in England dealt _ with its problems and stated that its increasing cash benefit fund now had a total 01 19,140 contributing members. He felt that in the near future the New Zealand branch would have to adopt a similar table for new candidates. The district secretary, Mr. John McLeod, had been granted leave of absence to attend, as one of the Dominion's delegates, the moveable conference in London, a gathering which would be of great importance to the Unity throughout the world. Good work continued to be performed by the committee which directed the investments and finance of the district. Visits during the year to the group lodges revealed that members were in earnest and realised the value and responsibility of association with the Order. The sisters were wielding a magnificent influence for good, and in many lodges they were elected to the important offices. Ritual and ceremonial work was well conducted at the various lodges visited, but in most lodges there was some trifling difference. It was hoped that after the London conference there would be issued a complete guide to ritual on the various ceremonials. Reduced Membership. During the year the directors had spent over £200 in.assisting distressed members' dues, and many lodges from their own funds had aided individual members. Butter was still at a low price, and, as many of the country brethren depended upon the returns for it, some were unable to keep their dues paid. Members on relief work found it impossible to keep their dues paid. Although most of the lodges had done splendid work in assisting distressed members in the payment of their dues, the limited funds available were becoming depleted. Many members had dropped out, and it was expected that the year would end with a reduced membership. "This is a real testing time," Mr. Hard added, "and the future demands of your best. I feel sure you will be prepared to face our difficulties in the future even more than you have in the past." Mr. Hard said that important questions affecting the Unity as an imperial institution were to be considered at the oversea conference in June next, and invitations had been issued by headquarters in England to the whole of the Dominions to be represented on a per capita basis. In accordance with this resolution New Zealand was allotted three representatives, and Bro. Shrimpton, grand secretary of the New Zealand Branch, and Bro. A. C. Blair, D.G.M., had been appointed, together with Bro. McLeod, to represent New Zealand.