CONFERENCE OF ODDFELLOWS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21457, 26 April 1935, Page 10

CONFERENCE OF ODDFELLOWS

'■ THE FINAL DAY FULES OF SOCIETY AMENDED BY REMITS The conference of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Oddfellows was concluded on Wednesday. The greater *>art of the day was taken up by the consideration of a long list of remits, wnile in the evening the final ceremony, the installation of officers, was held in the Radiant Hall. The first remit of the final day was Introduced by the Auckland district and sought to alter the rules to provide that the immediate Past District Grand Master be included in the personnel of such officers, and that they shall, in all respects, be entitled to all the prerogatives of district office. The remit was carried. To meet the position that arises when districts hold conferences biennially it was agreed that the word "annual" should be altered to district where necessary. A remit from Auckland and another from Taranaki proposing to alter the medical declaration for membership with a view to obtaining information not now disclosed, and another from Taranaki relating to the same question as it concerns female members, were referred to the Board of Directors with power to revise and issue a new form of declaration. A machinery clause clarifying the present admission rule was adopted. Lodge Officers A remit from the North Canterbury District that a clause be added to the rules to provide that the Immediate Past Noble Grand shall not be eligible for re-election to the office of Noble Grand or Vice-Grand if there be other candidates, till he or she has been out of office for 12 months, was carried. Considerable discussion centred on two remits asking that no member should be entitled to hold the office of Noble Grand unless at tne date of his was 21 years of age, or as Vice Grand unless he was 20 years and six months. Strong exception was taken by many deputies to the suggestions as it would be derogatory to the order, and particularly to members transferred from juvenile lodges who were trained in conducting meetings and in lodge procedure. The remits were lost, but clause 1 of the general rule was altered to read that a Noble Grand under 21 years of age shall not preside over a management committee. It was agreed th .(. no Vice Grand should be eligible for re-election to that office until six months had elapsed since he relinquished office without going to the higher office of Noble Grand. An Auckland resolution asking that the words "unless a satisfactory explanation is presented to the district committee of management" be incorporated in the rule dealing with fines for delay in supplying returns, was carried. The conference refused to amend the rules as suggested by Auckland to require that members paying their contributions into a lodge other than their own shouldf pay 4s a year for book expenses a?, against 2s now charged. Members on Funds Several amendments to the rules governing sick members that received the approval of the conference will require members declaring on the funds to supply the requisite certificates to their lodges within three days of declaring on and off the funds. Where a member is a chronic case, is an inmate of a hospital, or special circumstances arise, progress certificates shall be supplied at such periods as the lodge, with the approval of the management committee of ;he district, decide. Sick members

who refuse to obey the medical officer or neglect to carry out his instructions, or resume employment before declaring off, shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the society. Where there is any doubt regarding the ability of a member to resume employment he may be requested to present himself .for examination by an independent medical practitioner, if the officers or members of the lod=;e deem such member fit for work. If the member jiffected refuses to comply with this ruling he shall not be entitled to sick benefits. Where a member is an inmate of a mental hospital and there are no dependents the lodge may pay 5s a week to males and 2s 6d a week for females for their personal use. A generous gesture was made when discretionary powers were granted to districts to pay sick pay not exceeding 5s for males and 2s Gd for females to blind members who are otherwise in good health, but who are following some employment, provided the remuneration from such employment is not sufficient to.maintain the member or his family. Insurance Liability Although repeated efforts from many quarters have been made to have legislation passed to protect a member's sick pay when a claim for damages arises because of injury through an accident, no advance had been made. The directors tabled a special report. It was stated that where a member received sick pay during his incapacity, the person liable for the payment of damages was entitled to assess such sick pay when arriving at the amount of damages payable. The problem bristled with difficulties and, while in sympathy with the society, deputies felt that to hold back sick pay pending the settlement of any claim for damages would inflict undue hardship on members. At the present time insurance companies were gaining the benefit of a member's foresight in joining a lodge and were escaping a moral liability owl Jn« to the lack of legislative piotccK tjpu for societies. The time was ripe A lot aa alteration to the legislation of

the country, and it was entirely unfair that wealthy corporations should gain any benefit because a friendly society paid sick pay. A motion that the matter be referred back to the directors for further consideration in an endeavour to have the position rectified was carried. The conference agreed to continue the competition for the Grand Master's jewel for the initiation of most new members into the New Zealand branch, a stipulation being that the members proposed and initiated should be financial at the expiry of the period, or have died during the term. Date of Next Conference It v/as decided that the next moveable conference should be opened in Wellington on the first Monday in May. 1937, and that it be a recommendation that the directors meet some time previously and then circulate returns and reports to districts. The question of customs duties and .~alcs tax as they affect friendly societies was referred to the directors in an endeavour to have these additional costs on goods removed. A. further remit from Auckland asked that the society, districts, and lodges be urged to conduct a vigorous propaganda movement for the extension of the order. After a brief discussion of the implication of the proposition it was carried. A hardy annual was introduced by Auckland: "That the New Zealand Government be urged to allow friendly societies to operate on their Post Office Savings Bank accounts by means of cheques." This was adopted. From the same source a remit asked that consideration be given by the directors to the matter of medical and hospital benefits, and the conference accepted the suggestion. Sick Pay for Miners An important proposition: "That the Auckland district recommend the amendment of the regulations for the payment of sick pay for members who have followed the occupation of miners, and who have contracted pneumokoniosis, to the effect that the I period for which the sick and funeral fund .shall be liable for the sickness benefit shall not exceed five years," was referred to the board of directors to collect data and report to the next conference. The North Canterbury district asked that the society revert to the title "Provincial," as used in the unity ritual and rules. This was not adopted. The thanks of the conference were extended to the Grand Master for the able manner in which he had presided at the various sessions, and it was agreed that he be presented with a past grand master's jewel, and that his name be inscribed on the merit board. . Thanks were also extended to the North Canterbury district and the ladies and members of the entertainment committee for the excellent hospitality extended to the deputies and their friends. Similar tributes were paid to Bros. Stewart and Bruce for their splendid services as directors in the past. Tributes of appreciation were accorded the grand secretary, the trustees, and the press for the excellent reports given of the conference. The grand treasurer was also complimented, and thanks was given to Sister J. Houghton for her splendid assistance to the delegates and visitors, and for her services as secretary of the reception committee.