ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 7

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

ASHLEY DISTRICT. The forty-sixth annual conference of the Ashley .District .Manchester Unity Oddfellows was held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Kangio.a, cn Saturday. The District officers present, were:—JJ.G.ivl., Bro. 0. A. Oldman; D.D.G.M., lira. Jti. Dickholf; JJ. Sec., Bro. C. 1. Jennings; Tyler, Bro. W. J. 1. Doggett. The delegates from the various Lodges were: Rangiora, Bros. Jas. Marshall, iMi.U.; C. W. Bell and W. Smith, P.D.G.M.'s; J. L. Blake-, W. Gardner, and it. A. Scott, P.G.'s; Amberley, Bros. G. I{. Hutton, P.D.G.M., J. PBoyce, P.G., C. F. Davidson, N.G., Ivil Disperandum Bros. G. Smith, P.D.G.M., D. J. Grant, P.G., JK. S. Jordan, F. S. Oxford, Bros. E. C. Barnes, P.D.G.H.,. S. J. Anderson, P.G., and' W. D. Stewart, N.G.; Gust, Bro. G. K. Crysell, P.D.G.M.; Ohoka, Bros. W. E. Dalzell, P.G., and h. P. Quinn, N.G.; Woodend, Bros. B. J. Archer, P.D.G.M., and G. Gibling, P.G.; Leithfield, Bros. W. Fletcher, P.D.G.M., and D. Palmer, P.G.; Waikari, Bro. •F. Trounce, F.S.; Waiau, Bro. E. P. Mercer, I'.G.

The Grandmaster, in his opening address, slated that the ten lodges forming the district had made steady progress during tho past year, both numerically and financially. Tho total number of members was now 1194, an increase of 51 for the year. There were eiglity-one admitted during the year, while thero was a loss of 30, seven being by death. With reference to the finances the total income of the sick and funeral funds of lodges was £4427 17s Id, of which ' £l9Bl 4s Id • was contributions, and £2193 19s 8d interest and rents. Tho total expenditure was £2563 3s 3d, of which £1587 8s was sick pay, £260 funeral benefit and £6& l Os 7d funeral levies paid to the Central Funeral Fund. The net increase of the funds was £lß6l 13s lOd, the total, amount of fund? to credit on December 31sfc being £13,461 9s lOd. Added to this there was. a credit of £ll9O 12s 3d in the management funds of lodges, which maies the total value of the lodges funds to be £41,652 2a Id. It was pleasing to note that as a result of .the 1920 valuation an appropriation of surplus capital to tho aggregate amount of £7674 was possible, and the amount had been devoted to various benevolent purposes, the bulk of the money being used to redeem the cofitfibutionß- of' members -j! from 50 years of age' and upwards to the sick and funeral fund, and in sonic instances to '■ the management fund also. December 31st laßt year brought another five years valuation period to a close, and it was confidently anticipated that the result of the new valuation would be even better than the highly satisfactory one of the previous quinquennium which included the war years, with their largely increased liabilities. There should be a further substantial sum to appropriate, and it was expected that the elderly members of more of the lodges would be relieved of their contributions to the sick and funeral fund. The Grand Master reminded the meeting that the consolidation of the sick and funeral funds of lodges waß now in force, and the control of the funds for investment wuld now be exercised from the District office. In conclusion he stated that he visited all the lodgeß during his term of office, and found them well attended, and keen interest shown in the business. In some instances he found ladies in office, carrying out their duties admirably. Some lodge medical officers steadily refused to place ladies on their attendance lists. However it was to be hoped that lodges would make »n effort to increase the membership of ladies, and to that end consideration might be given to their admission on a lower scale of contributions for benefits minus medical attendance. Lodges had been notified of the official visit of the Grand Master of the New Zealand branch (Bro. A. G. Shi;impton) on March 11th, and it was hoped that thero would be a large and representative attendance at his reception, which wuold be in the form of a social gathering. , , , , Tlie Grand Master was accorded a vote ot thanks for his address. «_™" Fraternal greetings were received from Bro M. Barrell. P.D.G.M., who was prevented by illness from being present. It was resolved to acknowledge the and express sympathy with Bro. Barrel n his illness, and the hope that he would SP ort* of the Committee of Management was adopted and satisfaction with the much improved condition of the Loyal kari Ledge was expressed. The balance-sheet and auditors report were adopted, both being satifactory. _ The book examnier, Bro. J. A. l\ y>. submitted his report in which he stated that he had inspected the bo<oks of all the lodges, and found them well kept. Officers for the ensuing year elected as follows :-District Grand Maßter Bro H. Dickhoff (Choka Lodge); Deputy triran Master, Bro. J. D. Boyce tAmberiey Committee of Management, P.D.G.M b bios Geo Smith Win. Smith W. 1< letcher, ana P.fr Bro. W. Gardner; book P.D.G.M. Bro. Ivory; treasurer P.D.G.m. Bro. W. T. Wilson; junior auditor, r.vBro'. W. Butters. j A T P - D '«nd W Fle'chcr' pointed deputies to the Bit'c to be held in AuckG " of Man|" CI p'.D.G."M. Bell was appointed to confer th T °, f& d to recommend .lodges to tako Into consideration the question of wtako i secretaries salaries, creasing their seer ith the free hosMatters .n conn £or di9CU s Sl on, pital bed sc.heme B oyce were and Bros, i etcher Ivory, to be appointed aele ates consid er proposals held m Clin3tchvrch he in connexion w»n b.M.C. were recomThe delegates t remit {rom t he United mended tosuppo , ;ng j or its object the Westland of levies 'to the suspension or until the fund is reCentral Fun" cen t. above solvency, duced to £,f er ence was fixed to be he'd The next con n f " en the firat Saturday U» in Rangiora on March, 192'• , ted officers, Bros. Dic^ fa ° ff The .newly t [j en installed by P.G.M. and Boyce, and they returned thanks Bro. J. T co nferred on them, for the h 0" Master (Bro. Oldman) The retir- = his aer vices, and it was rewas thanked to: merit solved to Fla wi {b a n honorarium of boald ' Klst master's jewel, and recom£s. and {he p aat Master's degree, mend him_* M ter prc3 ented the jewel to /" e <&£..n, who returned thanks, and B*°- his appreciation of the assistive C he had received from his colleagues ! %-hf conference was then closed with the National Anthem.