ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12480, 17 April 1906, Page 7

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

(PB-SS AS-OCTATHW T_L_OBAM.a NELSON, April J6. Tlie third biennial meeting of the Moveable Committee of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, opened to-day. There was a largo attendance of delegates. The Grand Master, Bro. D. Loasby, in his address spoke of the pleasure of meeting in sunny Nelson, where the first Oddfellows Lodge in New Zealand was established in 1842, with nine Oddfellows, two of whom subsequently lost their lives in the Wainau Massacre. From that beginning the Society had in December, 1904, 18,021 members and a capital of £448,731. Tlio expenditure on sick, funeral and other benefits was £47,831. Throughout the world they numbered over a million, with invested capital of over twelve millions, and an annual income of two millions. The amount expended in bene fits approached one and a half millions. He said that thero was much to do to keep the Order in the front rank of friendly societies, and ono important question to be considered at thus Conference was the increase of funr-ral benefits. He alluded to Wanganui having joined the New Zealand Branch, and expressed a hope that all the South Island Districts would follow suit shortly, and form a united New Zealand.

The Directors, in their report,, expressed pleasure at the continued prosperity of the Order, both in England and the colonies.

Tlio Now Zealand Branch had secured a net gain of 532 members during the past year. After dealing with the valuations of the Ashbnrton. Ashley, Auckland and Hokitika Districts-, tho Directors drew attention to the necessity for close and profitable investment of funds, as it was only by careful management that solvency could be reached. In sixteen cases only had tho interest to tlie credit of sick and funeral funds been four per cent, or over; in nine eases the rate was 3_ per cent., and in seventeen cases 3 per cent, or under, while in seven easrs no interest whatever had been received. This was unsatisfactory, and in the oninion of the Directors, it would be well to have future valuations based on the actual rate of interest earned.