FRAUD AND NEGLECT

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 7

FRAUD AND NEGLECT

SERIOUS CHARGES. A VICTORIAN FRIENDLY SOCIETY. FALSE BALANCE-SHEETS. 1 ' BT TELEGRAPH—ritESS ASSOCIATION —COrVRIGHT (Rec. , March 11, 8.2 p.m.) • Melbourne, Maroh 11. At the annual conferonco: of tho Grand United Order of OJdfollows, fcho Grand Master, Brother; Pateyi stated that thero was a concensus ! of opinion throughout .tho Order that' drastic'-'reform'-"was. necessary if ■ tho. Order- Was to retain : a prominont place among friondly societies. .Thero was secth-, iing ' discontent at the disorganisation . and, disaffection which had arisen from the burdon of heavy levies tp, bolster lip an abortive, violently expensive, and. antiquated system that: was subversive of;every practical useful purpose for tho betterment of iiiembors.-.

■In ..years .'past,,';continued the. Grand. Mas-, ter, tho funds had been depleted. Those' who had. failed \to escape tho; consequences' of their crime# wero in prison. Many sick membors were unablo to get sick pay, except under sevpre restrictions, through maladneglect, ; and fraud)- '. After sixty, years'", work .only ,300 (?)..members Trero on. thp.'roll] ; and' they decreasing. :Tho funds -were only £80,000, which ,sum-; the -Government. actuary insisted was, insufficient to meet liabilities.

v.- For:, years; the' audited*, balance-sheets of; certain lodges and districts had been false as dicers' oaths. '. The,' disclosures . had . come thick and fast,; and only tho fringe of the: difficulty had been touched. '■ : ■