ODDFELLOWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1922, Page 3

ODDFELLOWS

AID FOR WEST COAST. (Special to the Star.) CHRISTCHURCH. April 5. At the Conference of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, Bro. F. W. Watt, J’.G.M. (Ashburton), moved the following remit : That in view of the fact that tho mining industries are an absolutely essential factor in the commercial, industrial, and domestic, life of New Zealand, it is not consonant with the principles of the Manchester I inly that the l>re( hit n of the mining lodges should be called upon to bear theNvhole cost of their hazardous occupations, and as the growing deficiencies in tho lodges of the L nited Westland District have in great part been caused by the operations of the mining industries, their burden should be shared by the, Society. Bro. Watt also moved the following addition to the rules: Subject to the United Westland District accepting and carrying into effect a system of consolidation, whereby the whole, <>l the funds of the deficiency lodges, ami such part, of tho funds of any surplus lodge, as arc • qual to its liabilities as act warily ascertained, be paid into a centralised fund the amount required to provide 20/- of assets to 20/of liabilities in the central fund at the date of its creation, be contributed pro rata by the surplus districts and lodges in the Society. Considerable, and at times very ■warm, discussion took place on the position of lodges on the West Coast. Several members supported the proposal t<> help these lodges. It was stated that only three West. Coast lodges showed a surplus, the total surpluses were £2782, and the total deficiencies £3950. « Eventually Bro. Watts's motions were agreed to.