ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7860, 18 March 1889, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

At the half-yearly meeting of the M.U.1.0.0.F., held at Baldutha on Saturday, The Chairman (P.G. Bro. Smellie) mentioned that about fifty sets of regalia had been ordered, at a cost of about L 25, which the district officrs considered very reasonable.

Bro. Fish moved that the report be adopted. He said the report was very useful and contained a great amount of instruction.

Bro. Sligo supported the report, which was very satisfactory. There were 179 new members, but he lamented that so many (101) had left through arrears. It may have come about through their leaving the colony. Referring to P.P.G.M. Bro. Leslie, he said no one had done more hearty and honest work for the Order. If a motion on the subject were likely to be accepted, it might be brought forward at the next six-monthly meeting.

The report was adopted ; and on the motion of Bro. Miller the auditors' report and balance-sheet were adopted after some slight discussion.

PURPLE LECTURE. It was decided that the Loyal Valley Lodge be the place for holding the next purple lecture and P.O. degree meeting.

CONTRIBUTIONS. Bro. Calvkkt introduced the suggestion from the Albion Lodge—"That provision should be made whereby the contributions of members should cease on a member reaching a certain age, or after paying for a certain number of years." He asked them to appoint a committee to consider and discuss the whole subject. Referring to the fact of 101 having left through arrears, he said the Order had fallen short in its objects in these being unable to meet their dues, and having lost all they had paid into the Order. It was when failing strength set in that man really wanted assistance from a society. Tho passing of the motion would attract members and be beneficial to the society generally. Bro. Fish seconded the motion. It was merely a question of £ s. d., and he thought those taking advantage of it should contribute more largely. He was in favor of the matter being inquired into, and a definite motion passed later on. He seconded the motion, and asked Bro. Calvert to accept his suggestion. The motion would then read as follows: " That in the opinion of this district meeting it is desirable, in the interests of Oddfellowship, that the question of making provision whereby tho contributions of members ceasing on a member reaching a certain age, or after paying for a certain number of years, should bo inquired into."

Bro. Sligo said it afforded him pleasure to see young members like Bro. Calvert taking an interest in the matter. He thought this a healthy sign. He thought the inability of members to pay subscriptions was not dealt with in the motion at all. The whole thing would have to be recast and amended. He (Bro. Sligo) favored some provision being made to meet the case of members who, through straightened circumstances, were unable to meet subscriptions. He was in favor of an amendment making the age at which members should cease to contribute at sixty-five, and the establishment of a superannuation fund. Those taking advantage of this would have increased contributions to pay. The matter was provided for in rule No. 30. He moved as an amendment—"That this meetingagrees that it is eminently desirable to provide for members' contributions ceasing at, say, sixty-five years of age; (2nd) that this desirable end means the establishment of a superannuation fund and nothing else ; (3rd) that this important motion engaged the attention of members of the district and of several district committees for many years, and was provided for as long ago as ten years, elaborated under the provisions of the ( existing district rule 30, which, in the I opinion of this meeting, provides a scheme full, complete, and equitable, and based on actual experience and deductions which have not been superseded ; (4th) that this meeting begs to direct the attention of lodges and members to the said rule, and considers it unnecessary to appoint a committee to investigate and report on this subject." Bro. Deacon supported the motion for the appointment of a committee. Bro. Harrop seconded the amendment, and' said he never heard of a member seceding from a lodge when he got up in years. Bro. Milne thought Bros. Harrop and Sligo were beside the question in speaking of charity. He did not like the word, as there was no charity in it. Members simply paid their own money into the funds and received the benefits when they were found to require them. The whole scheme was a species' of insurance. He thought Bro. Sligo had done good service in drawing attention to Rule 30.

Bro. Hogg thought that under Rule 30 provision was made for everything that was necessary. Bro, Calvert having replied, a vote was

taken, when the motion as attended by Bro. Fish was rejected by 19 to 17, and Bro. Sligo's amendment was carried.

TUB PROXY SYSTEM. It was moved by P.G. Marks (Prince of Wales Lodge), Beconded by N.G. Boyd—- " That lodges desirous of being represented at district meetings appoint their own members only as delegates, and so abolish the system of representation by proxy." This was met by an amendment by P.P.G.M. Fj.sir, seconded by P.P.G.M. Sliwo—" That wc proceed to the next business. n The amendment was carried.

THE INCIDENTAL FUNK P.G. Marks moved, and N.G. Boy» seconded —"That iu the opinion of thia lodge it is desirous to get the Friendly Societies Act altered, so that lodges may be permitted to place to the credit of the incidental fund all interest on investments over and above 5 per cent, per annum." —Lost.

ALTEIUTIOX OF LODGE NIGHTS. On the motion of P.G. Lake, seconded by P.G. Milne, it was agreed that pennissioo be granted to the Loyal Caversham Lodge to alter its lodge night from Tuesday to tha following Wednesday night temporary permission for such alteration till date having been given by the district officers. Permission was also granted to Band of Friendship Lodge (Kakanui) to alter its. night of meeting from Wednesday to Tuesday. It was moved by P.P.G.M. Ibbotsok, seconded by Bro, E. S. Knox, and carried—- " That P.P.G.M. Bro. W. Smellie's name be placed on the merit board; also that he receive a certificate to enable him to take the degree of a P.P.G.M., and that P.P.G.M. Geddes be respectfully wked to. give the same."

JUVENILE BRANCHES. The amendment of rule as suggested by the district officers re jufenile branches, was agreed to.

PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. It was resolved—" That in the opinion ol this district meeting a fair interpretation of By-law No. 25 will not allow of the payment of expenses to a district officer residing more than three miles from the district chambers when attending to perform the ordinary duties of bis office."

DISTBESS FUNDS. The district trustees were empowered to invest the sum of L4OO distress fund moneys, OAMAKU LODGE, The examiners' report re books of Oamaru lodge was read, and referred to the district officers to be dealt with. LEVIES. The levy to district funeral fund was fixed at Is 9d per member, taking the district as a whole; to be contributed by the individual lodges according to average age and number of membere.

The levy to incidental fund was fixed at Is per member.

NEXT DISTRICT MEETING. P.P.G.M. Deacon moved—"That next district meeting be held at Oamaru." Seconded by P.P.G.M. Geddes. An amendment was moved by Bro. Habrop, and seconded Bro. Sligo—" That the meeting be held in the M.U. Chamber, Dunedin." The motion was agreed to, and the date and time left to the district officers to fix. election of district officers. The election of district officers resulted as follows:

P.G.M.—D.P.G.M. Bro. J. Wood (Hand and Heart). Elected unopposed. D.P.G.M.—The candidates were P.G. J. H. Chapman, P.G. Miller, and P.G. Lake. On a ballot being taken P.G. Miller (Hand and Heart) was elected. Prov. C.S.—Bro. P. Black was reelected for the tenth year in succession. District Treasurer.—P.P.G.M. J. Robin was re-elected. Auditor. The candidates were P.G. Clarke, P.G. Williams, and N.G. Calvert. A ballot resulted in the election of Bro. Calvert.

ARBITRATION COMMITTEE. A Revision Committee, consisting of Bros. Fish, Deacon, Clarke, Ibbotson, Milne, Calvert, Hopcraft, Sligo, Harrop, Geddes, Coverlid, and Gardner, was appointed to act, together with the DUtrict officers, as an Arbitration Committee,

COMPLIMENTARY. Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring district officers, coupled with the names of F.P.G.M. Smellie and P.P.G.M. Ibbotson.