MANCHESTER UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 21286, 15 December 1932, Page 2

MANCHESTER UNITY

The quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge was held at Port Chalmers, the N.G., Bro. D. M'Laren, presiding over a good attendance of members. One candidate was initiated. The election of officers for the ensuing half-year resulted: N.G., Bro. W. M'Cormack; V.G., Bro, A. Robb; E.S., Bro. D. Campbell; warden, Bro. . M'Donald; guardian, Bro. Neil; G.M., Bro. D. M'Laren. The District Executive was represented by the P.G.M., lire. C. L. Calvert, and P.D.G.M., Bro. S. Jack, who later conducted the installation of officers. A number of P.G.s of the lodge assisted, among 'whom it was pleasing to notice an old member in P.G. Bro. Pickard, who completed his term of office in 1892. The district officers suitably acknowledged the toast of the executive, after ■which supper was handed round, and before closing the N.G. conveyed to the P.G.M. and P.D.G.M. the thanks of the lodge for conducting the installation of officers.

At the annual meeting of the Loyal Prince of Wales Juvenile Lodge, held at Port Chalmers, there was a large muster of members and visiting members, the N.G., Bro. G. Johnston in the chair. The principal business of the evening was the election and installation of officers. A welcome was extended to the president (Bro. Roberts) and members of the Juvenile Council, who installed the new officers ns follows;—N.G., Bro. T. Harrison; V.G., Bro. A. Wilson; E.S.. Bro. A. Cook; warden, Bro. J. Smith; guardian, Bro R. Clark; conductor, Bro. I. Pordham: G.M.,' Bro. G. Johnston. Several members of the Adult Management Committee also assisted in the installation. Before the meeting closed the president and his officers briefly addressed the lodge, andvopportuhity was taken Bv,J^ f presidet>t''to .present to Bro. T. Waugh a membership/prize. One hundred arid eighty deputies, representing friendly societies with combined membership of 12,391,567 and funds amounting to £93,250,087, met at Leicester, England, during September, when the national conference of friendly societies was held. Bro. G. Wright, secretary of the National Order of Free Gardeners’ President, was in the chair, supported by Bro. H. White, P.G.M., Manchester Unity, and the executive. In his presidential addi ■css Bro. Wright referred to the greatest problem friendly societies had to face to-day in unemployment and trade dislocation. Unemployment necessarily had a detrimental effect upon friendly society development, not merely because of the lack of money amongst members, but because of the deteriorating effect it has on the physical well-being of members, bringing in its tram more numerous and longer claims on our funds. Marked changes would bo brought about in the financial position of- many of their societies by the reduction of the rate of interest on gilt-edged and other securities. Their societies would suffer considerable loss of income from this source, and future valuations would in some cases have to be made on a lower' interest basis than formerly. The Lord Mayor of Leicester, who extended a civic welcorrie to the delegates, said his own connection with the work of friendly societies went back a long time, and he paid a tribute to their thrift and forethought which had created a spirit of sturdy independence among their members, and had enabled England to come through the present perilous tiiries better than any other country in the world. The conference dealt with a number of matters of interest to the friendly society movement, andwas also addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary of tho Ministry of Health (Mr Ernest Brown, M.P.), who dealt with the administration of the National Health Insurance Act in England.

At tho fortnightly meeting of tho Loyal Centenary Lodge, held on Monday evening, N.G. Bro. Russell presided over a fair attendance of members, visiting members from a number of sister lodges being welcomed. The Prov. C. Secretary wrote advising that permission to cancel the meeting falling on December 26 was granted. A visitor from Invercargill, P.P.G.M. Bro. Stokes. Prov. Treasurer of tho Southland district, was cordially welcomed, and in reply spoke on the work of the order in his district. Bro. Stokes stated that_ he hoped to visit a number of the city lodges while in Dunedin, and conveyed fraternal greetings from his lodge and district. The P.G.M., Bro. C. L. Calvert, and P.D.G.M. Bro. S. Jack later installed the following officers:—N.G., Bro. Norman; V.G., Bro. M'Callan; E.S., Bro. Hebbard; G.M., Bro. Russell; warden, Bro. Preston; guardian, Bro. Sellars. The P.G.M., in acknowledging the toast of the executive, congratulated the newlyelected officers, and trusted that the happy relations between the lodge and the district , would continue. He also welcomed on behalf of the executive Bro. Stokes, and extended an invitation to him to be present at the installation functions of tho various lodges. P.D.G.M Bro. Jack also responded. This being the last meeting of the lodge for the year tho N.G., before closing, extended seasonal greetings to members and the executive. Representatives of visiting lodges also extended greetings.