ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 74, 30 March 1910, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

• [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.'] NAPIER, 29th March. The meeting of the moveable committee of the New Zealand branch of the .Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was continued to-day. The executive was requested to draft a suitable reply to Bio. Sir Joseph Ward's greetings received the previous evening. Bro. M'Leod said the Prime Minister took a keen interest in the welfare of friendly societies, and he (the speaker) knew personally it was against Sir Joseph's wish that clauses 15 and 16 had been left out of the Consolidated Friendly Societies Act. A proposal from the Auckland district to rescind rule 71A, providing for the medical aid fund being kept separate from the management fund, was rejected by 21 votes to 11. With reference to the rule dealing with clearances, at the New Plymouth, conference an amendment was made which provided that a member clearing from ono lodge to another connected with the New Zealand branch should be charged the same rate of contributions as he paid to his previous lodge. The Auckland district now proposed a further amendment providing "that a member shall bo charged the rate of contributions in force in the lodge receiving his clearance at tho age he joined the previous lodge, and shall be exempt from paying entrance money." The proposal was, adopted. Deputy Loasby moved, on behalf of the directors, "That it be a recommendation to the moveable committee to centralise funeral funds on the system providing for the establishment of a central one-society funeral fund, by contributions payable through districts on an equitable graduated scale to De provided by an 'actuary, suitable fof~the benefits in each district." Deputy Thomas moved as an amendment, "That this meeting, whilst affirming the principle of establishing a central funeral, fund, considers that the importance of the subject warrants further consideration of tho matter being deferred for two years." After a two hours' debate, the amendment was lost by 19 votes to 14, and Deputy Loasby's motion was then carried. Machinery rules in connection with the central funeral fund were adopted. The conference has adjourned till tomorrow.