ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 12

ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS

First Woman President

Mrs G. Hood, who was elected grand president of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury of the United Ancient Order of Druids, became the first woman in New Zealand to reach tne highest office in Druidism. Her election to the office took place at the opening of the lodge’s sixty-seven th session. The retiring, grand president ♦Brother S. S. Bennett) said in his report that the lodge’s specialist’s benefit scheme had been re- < pened until December. 1956. and a further 1000 members had joined

; the scheme. The scheme had been extended to cover the cost of X-rays at private hospitals or by specialists and the services of U registered chiropractors. Until the E r end of the 1956 financial year £494 had been paid out for 291 i' claims. The lodge’s main funds were >|in a very healthy state and the balances continued to grow, he > said. On the year’s working fin-; i ances had increased by £8266 and the total funds stood at £297,21JL i The lodge had a total membership of 3157, a decrease of 81 from H 1956. The total value of benefits dis- : bursed was £11,788, and sick pay [• of £4655 was disbursed during the :' year. i The following officers were elected: —grand president. Sister -G. Hood; grand vice-president, » Bro. V. J. Henry; grand treasurer, I Bro. C. G. Jack; grand guardian. • Bro. S. D. Tarrant; board of mans agement, Bros. J. Porter, K. L. i L E Heney. G. Donaldson. Lu H. Neale, . P. S. Corkin, E. Franks and L. A. i Hantz; auditors, Bros. F. W. :. Hughes, L. Palmer and H. G.; r | Forster; judicial appeal committee, ’ Bros. R. H. Parker. H. B. Lux- : ton, A. H. Button, W. G. McKen-; zie and H. E. Beckett.