I.O.O.F.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 7

1.0.0. F.

_ c THE THIRTY-FOURTH BIENNIAL SESSION.

The thirty-fourth Biennial Session of the Grand 'Lodge of the 1.0.0.1- . was duly opened yesterday morning, m the Lodge Room, Svdeiiuaiii. Belore the official o;*eiiing took place Bro. Barter. D.D.G.M., of Canterbury District, presented G. M. Crawley with an illuminated address ol welcome. The addie.»s, which was b.autiltilly executed. was signed by the D.D.G.M., Bro. Barter, and the Noble Grands and Secretaries of Ridley Lodge, No. 30, Washington Lodge. No. 25, Templeton Lodge. No. 33; Star of Linwood Lodge. No. (57: Hakatere. No. OS: Star of Sydenham. No 77; Star of St. Albans, No. 79; Naomi Lodge, No. 0: Golden Links, No. 9; and To Tawei a Ixxlge. No. -4.

The following districts aro represented:—Auckland —Members of executive: D.G.M. Bro. R. Armiger, G.W. Bro. IE C. Gray: representatives, P.G.s Bro. S. C. HoHsworih, Bro. F. Armiger, Bro. F. Wilkinson, and Bro. M. J Hooper. East Coast —Representatives, Bro. Robert Robb and Bro. 11. J. Bendle. North Wellington—Bro.

Thos. Griggs. South Wellington—Bro. A. Lei-h Hunt and Bro. H.H. Coote. North Canterbury—Bro. C. I. Talbot and Bro. Wm. Gimson. North Otago— Bro. J. A. Meek and Bro. John Vernor. South Otago—Executive officers, I.P.G.M. Bro. Miller, G.S. Bro. Reid, and G. T. Bro. Alexander; representatives, Bros. J. H. Hinton, A. U. Valentine, D. Swinton, and H. Luscombe. Southland —Executive officers, G.M. Bro. T. Crawlev; rt*presentatives. Bros. J. McLauehlan", G. A. Walker, and J. Ewan.

After tho Lodge had been officially opened, the G.M. reported the death of G.S. of the* Sovereign G.L., Bro. Nolen, and it was resolved to adjourn the Lodge until 2.30 out of respect to the deceaseel brother.

Grand Lodge resumed nt 2.30 p.m. The Grand Master's report was received. It stated that the following were the statistics from December, 1830, to December, 1907:—Initiations 3,339,646, members relieved 3,409,324, widowed families relieved 295,920, members deceased 330,918, total relief £2-1.044.983, total revenue £44,862,050. Fourteen new adult lodges had been opened in the Dominion during his term of office, one juvenile lodge, and four Rebekah lodges. Grand Ixxlge went into committee to consider the report of tho Grand Master, and it was adopted. The reports of the District Deputy Grand Masters were received and adopted. Grand Lodge then adjourned until to-day. THE BANQUET. The complimentary banquet tendered to the. officers of the Grand Ivtxlge of New Zealand took place lust night at Freeman's Rooms. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, who was supported by the* Grand Ixxlgo officers, and there was a largo gathering of ladies and gentlemen. After tho loyal toast of "The King" had been proposed by the Chairman, Bro. Rusbridgc. P. 0., proposed "Tho Grand Lodge of Australasia." which was responded to by Grand Sire Bro. Wm. Reid, G.S.

In proposing 'Tho Grand Lodge of New Zealand,'' Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., said that at the Grand Lodge* session at Oamaru, tho Grand Master Bro. Crawley anel himself took part in tho stormiest meeting he had ever taken part in. He was most pleased to see so many brethren present. Ho felt sure that in the centralisation of their sick fund they had elono well. The Executivo of the Grand Lodge had been most conservative, and were the first executive of any Oreler to accept tho valuation of the actuaries in Wellington, and this laid the foundation of a really solid finance. He thought, therefore, they had cause to be proud of their Executive as a body, conserving the best interests of tlie Order.

G.M. Bro. T. Crawley, in responding, said that it gave him great pleasure in meeting the delegates in 'Christchurch, ns it was one of the great strongholds of the Order. Fortunately for them, ho could not trouble them with any figures, for a good and sufficient reason—he had left them in the lodge room. During tho last twelve montlis they had added somo 700 or 800 members, anel the greater portio:t of the increase had taken place in Christchurch, and he congratulated the brethren and sisters. As"to the funds, he quite agreed with Bro. Taylor that tho Executive were very careful in tho conservation of the money belonging to the lodges. They had the handling of some £38.000. and in the course oi a year they would have eoiiie £.0,000 to deal with. Though holding tho premier financial position amongst tho Frendly Societies in New Zealand, ho hoped they would become the premier Order numerically There was plenty of scope, as he understood that half the population of the Dominion were not members of any Friendly Society. •'

Bro. L. Hunt, one of the Wellington representatives, who proposed "The lailiamont of New Zealand," said that they were anxious to see a good and efficient T-riemily Societies' Act- passed by Parliament They hoped that the legislation would be in the direction of acting equitably towards all sections of tho community. Friendly societies, he might say, were the training-grounds ol future members, and many had graduated from these to Parliament Mr Ell, M.P., responded. Ho said that the Parliament of New Zealand was one in the main that the people were well satisfied with. They had dealt with their old people, and the sick and infiim would bo dealt with next session. Legislation on friendly socioty matters last session did not pro*gress, ns the friendly societies as n whole could not agree- amongst themselves. He trusted next session they would place an Act on the Statute Book which would be for the benefit of all the different Orders, and he was sure they would have the able assistance of Mr T. E. Taylor.

Bro. T. E. Taylor, M.P., said that the* Nalional Annuities Bill, which was coming down next session, provided for the subsidising of the contributions to tTn- Annuities' Fund. The* friendly societies would have to consider "their position in regard to the action of tlie Government towards the* people through the* National Annuities. Act. He felt that they would find that they were going in the direction of Germany, and find the Government providing for all cases of sickness, non-employment, and bereavement He should be strongly in favour of legislation in the dirrrtion of making each member of the friendly societies paying such a scale of contributions as would ensure him the benefits promised by the various noeietics.

The other toasts were " North Canterbury District." responded to by Bro R. Barter. D.D.G.M. : "Representatives to Grand Lodge," responded to by the different representatives to Grand Lodge session; "' Kindred Societies," responded to by the representatives of the various societies: and " The Mayor and Corporation of Christchurch." responded to by his Worship the Mayor.