ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUID.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10131, 2 September 1898, Page 3

ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUID.

GRADUATED FEES. A special meeting of representatives to the District Grand Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held at the Druida' Hall, Christchurch, yesterday. Present—Members of the Board of Management—Bros. W. H. Manhire, D.G.1., in the chair, J. J. Hunter, P.D.G.P., T. Smith, D.G.V.P., H. D. Rayner, D.G.S., T. Walker, D.G.T., and W. Bart ram, D.G.G. RepresentativesPioneer Lodge, Bros. H. E. Smith, J. Rose, J. Swmnerton; Hope of St. Albans, Bro. W. Newton; Mistletoe, Bros. R. Dyer and W. Bailey; Ethelbcrt, Bro. A. C. Bartrum; Lyttelton Hearts of Oak, Bro. \V. T. Barnes; Star of Anglesea, Bro. W. Bartram; Perseverance, Ero. J. Hawker; Amberley, Bro. J. G. Harris; Anchoi, Bros. J. C. Hobson and J. Rhodes; Ohoka, Bro. J. Baker; Timaru, Bros. R. W. Simpson and G. J. Sealey; Ivy oi Linwood, Bro. T. Smith; Star of Ashburton, Bro. S. Salek; Oak of Sydenham, Bros. R. E. Beckett and J. Hadrield; Old Oak, Bro. C. Tilleyshort; Kllesmere, Bro. A. Werner; Olive Branca, Bro. W. J. Lawrence; and Trafalgar, Bro. B. Knight. It was proposed to amend rule 34, Board of Management, by adding the words— "No borrowers from the District Grand Lodge funds be eligible to act as auditors." The proposal was carried by 16 votes to 4 votes. It was decided, after discussion, to amend rule 44, as to the amount of funeral money, which was now fixed at £30, less any amount that had been paid on account of the member's first registered wife, and any arrears due by the deceased member. It was resolved—"That no borrower from the Lodge funds be eligible to act as auditor" ; addition to management rule 79. It was decided that notices of amendments, &c, should be sent to the Grand Lodge secretary prior to the last Wednesday in "November" instead of "January and July." The Board of Management submitted proposals for the amendment of liule 93, by the introduction of a graduated scale of fees, the scale not to apply to those who were members previous to December 31st, 1898. Scale No. 1 provided for a total payment weekly from the ages of sixteen of *ls Id to the age of forty of Is Bid. The division for the incidental fund was in respect of each member and for the funeral fund from s£d to Is Id. The second proposal, which it was explained had been placed on the paper for comparison, approached as near as possible the suggested scale of the Registrar, provided for similar weekly total payments at the extremes of the ages mentioned, but slightly altered them as affecting the intermediate ages. The division for th,e incidental fund was 7d up to 7£d, and funeral fund 6d up to Is Id. Bro. Newton introduced the subject. He said that their fixed rate was a palpable absurdity; unjust and unfair. The fixed rate had iiad the effect of inducing older men to join the Druids, and bringing up the average age of the order to as much as that of orders which had been twice as long in existence. He moved Scale No. 1, and held that it was absolutely necessary to offer facilities for the youths to join" the order, which would be accomplished under it, and by it, also tihe funeral fund would benefit. In comparing the two proposals, he, pointed out that the second did not receive tho support of the Board, as the rise of Is Id up to the age of twenty-one, to Is 3d from twenty-one to twenty-three, was too much of a jump, while that proposed by the Board (No.l) only provided Id rise. Speaking generally, he said it was the duty of the order to remove the stigma of practical bankruptcy, which had attached to it from the report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. One way to do that was to come up to date, and adopt a.graduated scale, without adopting every suggestion which the Registrar had made. Bra Harris seconded the motion, and expressed the hope that in time members under twenty-one would be admitted at Is a week. Bro. Hobson supported the proposal .He pointed put that for the youth who-joined at eighteen and the man who joined at forty, funeral benefit was the same, but, supposing each died at sixty, there was a very large discrepancy in the amount each had contributed to the funeral fund for the same return. This difference arose under the present system. Bro. Barnes moved No. 2 Scale, as an amendment, which. Bro. A. C Bartram seconded. Brq, Barnes, though moving the amendment, expressed opposition to all graduated scales. Bros. Swinnerton and Rhodes said they had been instructed to oppose a graduated scale. No. 2 Scale was rejected. Bro. Simpson, Timaru, stated that his Lodge was strongly in favour of a graduated scale. He moved an amendment from the Timaru Lodge, which proposed a scale of from a minimum of Is 2d to a maximum of Is 7£d per week, with a greater amount going to the funeral fund. Bro. W. Bailey seconded the amendment. After a discussion the Timaru scale was rejected. Bro. Hadfield moved as an amendment that the scale in the lower periods should be 16 to 21, Is per week; 21 to 23, Is lAd; 27 to 29, Is 4*d. Bro. Simpson seconded the amendment. Bro. Barnes took exception to the assertion that the order was financially unsound, and said the Lodges were accumulating money. Bro. Hadfield's amendment was rejected. The original proposal of the Board was carried by 13 votes to 10 votes. It was as under—Ages 16-20, weekly payments Is Id ; 21-23, Is 2d ; 24-26. Is 3d; 27-29, Is 4d; 30-32, Is s|d; 33-35, ls.6*d; 36-38, Is 7£d ; 39-40, Is B£d. In respect of members under the new proposals, it was decided that 20 per cent, of the contributions be placed to the credit of the sick and funeral fund, instead of Is 6d quarterage, which, however, remains good in relation to old members. It was resolved that a District President should vacate his office if absent three consecutive meetings from any Lodge within five miles of the parent Lodge; also that the fine on members not clear on the books should be 3d for every 10s or proportion thereof. A secretary having failed to properly charge a member, the District President ruled, and the Board of Management supported him, that the member must pay up all arrears. The Lodge in question appealed on principle against this decision, but the appeal was dismissed. After other business had betn transacted the Lodge rose at 6.30 p.m.