FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13062, 12 March 1908, Page 7

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

3 ODDFELLOWSHIP IN AUSTRALIA. t . STARTLING REVELATIONS. f United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. 1 (Received March 11th, 8.2 p.m.) MELBOURNE. March 11. At the ajinua.l conference of the , Grand United Order of Oddfellows, the Grand Master stated that thero was a concensus of opinion throughout tho Order that drastic reform was nocc*p sary if the Order was to retain its * prominent placo among friendly socier tics. Thero was seething discontent t at the disorganisation and disaffection c which had arisen from tho burden of ,1 heavy levies to "bolster up an abortive, a violently expeinsive, and antiquated system that was subversive of every practical and useful purpose for the, luettennent of mom*bers. For years past the funds had been depleted. Thoso who had failed to escape the consequences of their crimes were in prison. Many sick mc-ml>ers wero unP able to get sick pay. except Hinder ■* severe restrictions, through malnds ministration, neglect and fraud. After V sixty.years the funds amounted to only d £'80,00*0. which the Government Actuary 1 insisted was insu flic halt to meet liabilities. For years the audited halanceg sheets of certain lodges and districts had been false. The disclosures had come thicl; and fast, and only the fringe cf the difficulty had been 0 touched.