MANCHESTER UNITY.

Evening Star, Issue 15140, 24 March 1913, Page 9

MANCHESTER UNITY.

At Saturday, afternoon's meeting at Naseby the half-yearly report (published in our last issue) was received and adopted without discussion. Tho report of the lodge auditor on tho books of the Loyal Vincent Lodge was' considered in committee. Tho position of the lodge was referred to the executive, with power to act, and the' lodge book examiner was asked to supply a written report. Bro. A. Sligo-. (Hand and Heart Lodge) submitted the following motion, of which notice had been given:—"That district rule 17 be amended by the following addition : ' Tho District Executive may call upon any lodge whoso investments are returning an average of less than 4 percent., or the rate used by the Government actuary at the last preceding quinquennial valuation, for a statement of their investments ; such statement shall show the amount, period, and rate of interest earned from each sepaartc investment, and if, in the opinion of the District Executive, a more remunerative investment can be found for any available moneys, they shall bo empowered to call in such moneys and have them invested by the district trustees.' " —Bro. A L.W. Wood proposed that the rate of interest specified in tho motion be the market rate, which was now 5£ or 6 per cent. —The motion was carried by a large majority. Bro. J. A. Scott (Centenary Lodge) moved, and Bro. Woltersdorf seconded—- " That the initiation fees provided under rule 43 be amended 'as under: 18 years and under 30 years, ss; 30 years and under 55 years, 10s; 35 years and under 40 years, 15s; 40 years and under 45 years, 25s."—This was rejected in favor of an amendment by Bro. Sullivan fixing a uniform initiation fee of 10s, irrespective of age. _ On the recommendation of the district officers it was decided that the name of P-.P.G.M. W. G. Cole be placed on the merit board, that he receive a certificate to enable him to take the degree of P.P.G.M., and that he receive a P.P.G'.M.'s jewel. The rate of levies for the half-year was fixed as follows: —Funeral levy, 2s 6d ; incidental, 9d. The appointment of the place, date, and time for holding the next district meeting was left in the hands of the District Executive. The election of officers for the ensuing 12 months resulted as follows: —Prov. G.M.. Bro. D.G.M. G. A. Coughlan ; Prov.' D.G.M., P.G. Bro. A. W. Palmer; Corresponding Secretary, Prov. C.S. Bro. J. A. Hopcraft; Treasurer, Prov. Treasurer Bro. J. H. F. Hamel; Auditor, P.G. Bro. O. Grater: Lodge Book Examiner, P.P.G.M. Bro. W. E. C. Reid f Arbitration Committee—P.P.G.M.s Bros. Brundell, La wry, Briggs, Broadfoot, C. J. Woods, P.G.s Bros. Lyons, Thomson, Taylor, Rodger, Sullivan, V.G. Bro. Sligo, Per. Sec. Bro. Stabb. It was decided to recommend the executive to vote the sum of 10 guineas to the Naseby Hpspital. The newly-elected officers were installed with the usual formalities, and this brought the business of the conference to a close. In the evening a-banqueb was tendered to the visiting delegates by the Loyal Naseby Lodge. Among the toasts honored were '•The New Zealand Parliament," responded to by Mr R. Scott, M.P. ; "The M.U.1.0.0.F.* and tho Otago District," " The Naseby Lodge," and " Visiting Delegates."