HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 88, 8 January 1919, Page 3

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

»- : ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the St. Patrick's branch of the Hibernian Society took place last Mondav evening at St. Patrick's Hall. Bro. J. 1 , . Troy, 8.P., presided. The secretary presented the annual report for tho year ]!)18. On account of the war no progress was made regarding membership. The 6ociety had lost much of its funds through the war, as sixty' soldier-members were kept financial without one penny being added to the funds.' This represented an annua) loss of. JEISO, which made the total loss during the war period under this head something like .£550. Tho sick pay for 1918, through the epidemic, was tho highest on record, huving reached nearly ,£IOO, whilst the total paid out during the war period.came to JiIGOO. During the year .£2BO was paid out in death benefits, two of the death claims being ,£'7o each, as both of the deceased meqbers had availed themselves of the society's special insurance fund, which provides a death benefit of ,£SO im addition to the amount of s£2o paid on account of ordinary membership. The new insurance scheme had been paesed by the Government Actuary, and duly registered by the of Friendly Societies. The total death claims paid out during the war period totalled .£570. The amount paid out in maternity benefits totalled .£4B. Prior to the war ths tociety was etendily progressing both as to membership and finance. INov Unit the war was , over it was expstted that the society would again make steady progress. The Government, j.lthough it had asked for statistics with regard to soldier-menjbers, had not as yet come to the assistance of friendly societies, although certain assistance had been given t> the soldier-members of the National Provident Fund. It was naturally expected that as members of friendly societies were subject to a strict medical examination prior to admission, and also had 'to pass the military medicol test prior to being accepted for service, pioving that each member accepted for service was fit and in good health, and as a member is not discharged from the Forces until lie is medically unfit, the Government should , be responsible for the friendly society benefits of members serving with the Expeditionary Force until such time as the medical oiheers o* each lodge certify that the member has regained his normal health, ond is fit to be granted his membership btnefits. Not only ehuld the Government undertake this responsibility, but they should also assist societies to' (ho e.-.tent of assisting to pay the of soldier-members whilst ow active service. The valuation reports frr.m tho Friendly Societies Department Actuary for the quinquennian period ended December 31, 1912, was received, and disclosed .that the ■report was more favourable thtti, the report for the previous period. On nccount, however, of its belateilness, and the fact that another report was due foi the period ended December 31, 1917, no action was taken. The hope was expressed that the next report would »e more expeditiously prepared, ir. tmlor to give members a chance of carrying out the recommendations of the actuary during the succeeding qiiinquomiinn period. The election of officers for the ensuing term resulted as follow:—President, Bro. J. J. Troy; vice-president, Bro. JF. J. Cleary; treasurer, Bro. J. J. L. Burke, P.P.; warden. Bro. J. Clark; guardian, Bro. O. Krohn, P.P.; sick visitors, Bros. Jl. Condon and J. .1. Troy; trustee, Bro. it. J. Clear,-.