M.U.I.O.O.F.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17880, 28 September 1923, Page 7

M.U.1.0.0.F.

OTAGO DISTRICT AND N.Z. BRANCH.

(SPJCIAL TO "TUX PBIBS. ') DUXEDIN, September 27. The half-yearly meeting of the delegates of the M.U.1.0.0.F. lodges in the Otago district was continued this morning, when further discussion took | place on the motion moved by 1 P.P.G.M. Bro. jßobson "that the time j has arrived when the Otago district j M.U. should amalgamate with the New Zealand branch," and an amendment by P.G.M. Bro. Hamel to the effect that no decision be made until all avenues of information be investigated with the object cf determining if the integrity of the Otago district could be maintained inviolate. Bro. Hunt said that both the amendment and the motion should be voted against. In regard to the community shouldering th<s burden of hazardous accidents, tie maintained that this wrong and that the burden should lie carried by the society to which they belonged. The Arbitration Court luui not the power to assist the friendly society in this respect. He was satisfied tliat the door of the New Zealand branch would always be open to a district financial as Otago was. By keeping the reins of government in iho Otago district, they would find plenly of work to do for the members. When the work in Otago was finished it was time enough to amalgamate. He did not believe in State aid for friendly societies. It was a dangerous practice and shou'ici lie imposed. They should do the work tnemselves. • Certain tiades were amalgamated throughout the world, and one society with profits .supported the poorer society. It was easy to send money away but very hard to get it back. He believed that tlKi Otago district could govern itself far better than a governing body iu Wellington or elsewhere. There was nothing to prevent the Otago district doing the same thing as the New Zealand Branch were doing. There were other avenues to nJtsiKt members. Ho suggested a matrimony fund, which Ti-> maintained would get a monopoly over the new members. Provincial Treasurer Bro. Sligo, in speaking against the proposal, said that the plea of fraternity had been put forward for the proposal, but he thought they could fraternise with the members in their own district, but the distant members —say Auckland —were seen very occasionally. The New Zealand branch appeared to him to be a useless controlling body. Some of the delegates had come to look on the Tvew Zealand branch as the Heaven of Oddfellowship. They were doing quite insufficient mission work in their Own district. .Amalgamation would cost them £SOO, and if they put £2OO into use i'i the district instead, they would be doing a far greater work. The hard workers of the district would be needed to look after affairs in the New Zealand branch should they amalgamate', and their services would be lost the district. The control of the sick and funeral fund would be taken away from the lodges, and this would upset the work of the individual lodges. They, would find that in the New Zealand branch Auckland was the tail that wagged tho dog. Prov. G.M. Bro. jßobson, in reply, said that he was proud of the Otago district and knew that the district could carry weight and do much good in the New Zealand branch. The present position was impossible and must be altered some day. Touching on the question of expense, he said that the total expense of the Auckland district with the New Zealand branch was 8d per member. The delegates' expenses had been grossly over-esti-mated. These would be approximately 5d per member. With the introduction of 4000 or 5000 the expenses would be decreased. The branches' housing scheme was sound and payable, which was all that was wanted. The propaganda officer was only a proposal. They wanted an extension of tho principle of unity, not only in the Otago uistrict, But right throughout New Zealand. The parochial spirit was not good for the unity as a whole. Both the motion and tho amendment were rejected.