I.O.O.F. GRAND LODGE.

Evening Star, Issue 15139, 22 March 1913, Page 8

1.0.0. F. GRAND LODGE.

The closing scene on Thursday in connection with the 36th session' of the Grand Lodge of the .L0.0.F. was the election and installation of officers for the ensuing two years. The election resulted as follows :—G.M., Bro. A. Valentine; D.G.M., Bvo. Wm. Hunter; G. Warden. Bro. R. Robb; Grand Secretary, Bro. Wm. Reid ; Grand Treasurer. Bro. J. H. Hinton; Grand Trustees—Bros. L. Keinnitz, T. Cole, and D. M. stiller; representatives to G.L. of Australasia—Bros. R. C. Gray, W. Hunter, J. H. Hinton, and S. C. Holdsworth. The business not being nearly completed at the expiration of the extended time of sitting, the representatives decided to meet last evening. The dav was speni in an excursion to Taieri Mouth, about a hundred Oddfellows and their families taking this pleasant outing. The lodge ?-es«med in the evening. The installation of officers was proceeded with, and after the G.M. was installed he appointed the following subordinate officers—Grand Chaplain, Bro. E. 1). Smith; Grand .Marshal, Bro. C. J. Talbot; Grand Conductor Bro. S. C. Hold.-worth ; Grand Guardian Bro. H. Barton ; Grand Herald. Bro. E. H. Whitmore. It was decided to hold the next sessions of G L in 1915 at Auckland, and to invite the G.L. of Australasia to hold its next meeting at Dunedin. A pleasant feature was the presentation clock to PG. Beck, of Wellington, for serves rendered to the G.L. dSring the last two years. The newly-elected G.M also made a presentation to Bro R C Gray on his relinquishing his office of Grand Master. The newly-installed officers tendered their thanks for -.he confidence reposed in them, and G.L. was then adjourned.

SESSIONAL BANQUET. POLITICS DISCUSSED. The biennial session of the Grand Lodge. 1.0.0. F., is this year being held in Ifinedin, and in connection therewith a banquet, was held on 'limrsday night ,„ the Masonic Hall, Morav place. Bro. W k.lpatmk D D.G.M., presided, and was supported by Bro. R. (j. Gray, G.M., Mr J. Wilson (Mayor of Dunedin), Mr T K ll' ¥-'£' Mr S - B - Mac])onald (Mayor of St Ivilda), Bro. J. H. Hilton, G. 1., bro. R Armiger (Auckland), P.G.M., and other promiiriiit Oddfellows and rcprosentativts from other societies There were about 100 gentlemen present from all qe.aiteis of New Zealand. Mr p jj 1 nomas, the caterer, had provided exceh lent victuals, and alter U, ea3 had been despatched a lengthy toast list and musical programme wns embarked upon. * . r 1 .«,9,' Ula - V ' to the toast ot The Grand Master.'" traced briehy the history am progress of the Order from us inception irf Ame-ica to its widespread present day activities, ihough not yet 100 years old, its total membership , 10 w stood at 2,052.000. amounting in the Dominion alone to 7,500, distributed over 74 lodges The Order was the Inst to introduce female lodges, in which it had been followed by other friendly societies. The accumulated funds of the i.oo e o,- n , W , Zwlland amounted to-dav to hMWo ..which was the amount at'the back ol the organisation to pay benefits in the day of trial or of need. "(Applause.) . ;°7n., H - ' flnto ». 0.T., proposed tho toast The Parliament of New Zealand " and in doing so dwelt .it length on rumored developments m the attitude of the Government towards tho friendly benefit societies. It had been rumored that the Government were after the shekels of the societies. It was understood that next session a Bill would be brought forward deaung with the vexed question of subventions to friendly societies—in other word*, assistance to those societies in tho payment of sick claims or other benefits. *or many years this question had been before, the eyes of the friendly societies, and from the 1.0.0. F. it had never met with anything but uncompromising hostility. The order had always maintained that it was the duty of a friendly society to place-itself in such a position that it would be able to give H& members all tho benefits it promised from its own resources. In the last year or two the Government had entered into competition with friendly societies with its National Annuities Bill. He had not heard much about the operation of the. measure, but the friendly societies had to recognise that tho Government had come into competition with them, and it behoved them to watch carefully the next step which was- taken. Iriendly societies must have saved tire Government millions of pounds by tho work they did among their members, and that being so tho matter of Government assistance to increase the benefits the societies were able to give to their old members might be acceptable. At any rate, the_ fact that tho Government was in competition with tho societies made it easier for the societies to accept assistance in that direction. There might bo a division of opinion as to the acceptance, but ho was sure there was no division of opinion on the point that if tho assistance was to be accompanied by any interference with the rieht of tho societies to manage their own affairs it would be most determinedly opposed.—(Applause.) Mr T. K. Sidey, replying, said thai ho realised that during recent years the trend of Government legislation" had been towards encroaching on the work of friendly societies. The superannuation scheme for the Civil Service was an jnsta-nee of it, especially as it was a compulsory scheme. A more direct encroachment was to be found in the National Provident Fund scheme, which, however, was a voluntarv scheme. Inasmuch as it was subsidised, by the Government it placed the Government in a bettor position than a private institution. As for the legislation Mr Hinton had spoken of, that was the first he had heard of it. Any scheme that was brought forward in the way of insurance against unemployment or against sickness required watching. Jest it should undermine the work of friendlv societies. Of course, it might he a. very "good thing for the Government to come along and sav " wo shall give you something in" addition te> the benefite you ore able to igive at the present time." Such a proposal might induce more people to join the friendlv societies, and so long as the Government went no further—so long as it did not ask for control of the society's affairsit might lead to good results. Friendly societies had undoubtedly saved tho (Jovemment and the local "authorities largo sums- of money by the work thev were doing. Ho did not think the Government would be inclined to bring forward any proposals that would interfere with the working of the friendly societies. Certainly if all the friendly societies joined together they could present such a solid front that no Government would da.re to legislate against their interests.

Mr J. J. Marlow, who was present representing a kindred friendly society, also referred to the. question of '"Governmental interference. He was more uncompromising than the previous speakers, giving it as his view that any advances by "the Government should bo strenuously opposed. For the friendly societies to accept Government subventions would be to place themselves in immediate jeopardy of interference. Monetary grants would beonly a stepping stone to control, for the Government would not for very long make grants of money to the orders -without demanding some voice in the spending of the money. Mr Marlow's view appealed to find extensive support. An extensive toast-list was honored and a select, musical programme enjoyed prior to tho meeting disbanding at a'late hour.