ODDFELLOWS’ CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 March 1928, Page 3

ODDFELLOWS’ CONFERENCE.

DISTRICT DELEGATES MEET. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. CONSOLIDATION OF FUNDS REJECTED. A largely .attended conference of delegates from. Taranaki lodges of tlie Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows was held in the Foresters.’ Hall, Stratford, yesterday. The assemblage was presided over by District Grand Master Bro. S. J. Bennett (Manaia). There, were present- the following Past Grand Masters .of various Loyal Lodges: —Union (Hawera): Bros. R. S. Sage, G. Collins, R. J. Wallis; Excelsior (New Plymouth) : Bros. L. R. Little, J. Robinson G. W. Bennett; Waitara: Bros. F. ’J. Brabant, S. W. Goddard ; Egmont (New Plymouth): Bros. G. H. McGahey, T. R. Clow, H. Y. McGahey, S. Bollon; Stratford: Bros. H. Sufnmerfield, L. L. Bellringer; Midhirst: Bros. J. F. N. Vickers, C. E. Phillips; Eltham: Bros. J. M. Bates (Deputy District Grand Master), D W. Jones, E. G. Woodley, R. A. Scott, Sister M. Thornhill; Toko: Bro. M. Gernhoeffer; Manaia.: Bros. H. E. Hill, Jas. Campbell. A. J. Andrews; Kaponga: Bros. W. Marr, T. Renton, N.G. Sister M. Hitchcock. Proceedings opened with the reception of the District- Grand Master and the Depntv District Grand Master hy deputies, followed by delivery of the Grand Master’s address, ‘ balancesheet, and reports of the management committee, book examiner and auditor. Fraternal greetings were received from- prominent officers of kindred lodges in Wellington, Auckland, Ashburton, Dannevirke and New Plymouth, and duly acknowledged on the motion- of the- Grand Master. / GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS. In his address, the Grand Master welcomed the delegates, and expressed the hope that their deliberations would benefit their own lodges and the New Zealand branch of the- Order in general. He was- pleased to record financial and numerical progress of the district lodges during the past year, stating that- the total worth of the. district now stood at £53,312 Is lid. The total amount disbursed during the year in sick. pay was £l2Bl 17s lid, funeral claims £320, payments to doctors £1256 16s 4d, and to chemists £3BO 13s 3d. . ' The management committee had visited all the lodges and explained the all-important question of consolidation of sick and funeral funds.. Even if the movement were defeated, its introduction had created renewed interest in the functions of the' district lodges. The contest had been carried out in the true spirit of Oddfellowship, and his thanks were extended to the- members of committee who so ably discharged their duties in ventilating tlieir views, travelling at their own expense. The district officers have visited all the lodges, and found them well conducted and, steadily increasing their membership. As Grand Master of the district he recommended doubling the membership, which could be accomplished hy each member securing -the initiation "of a new member. His address, he said, woqjtd he incomplete without feeling reference to those brethren who had passed to whence none return. The good and faithful service rendered to the Manchester Unity in its wide field; of activities hy their late Bro. C. D. Sole would live long in the memory of the brotherhood. As a true Oddfellow and a brother of sterling character liis advice was keenly sought and always given in a kindly spirit. His place would be hard to fill.

The speaker said the past- year had been to him a strenuous, though pleasant, period, and the time he had devoted to the advancement of the Order had been freely and. ungrudgingly given. He extended bis. best thanks to the Deputy Grand Master, executive, and secretary for assistance cheerfully rendered, and in conclusion wished his successor a pleasant and even more successful term of office.

NOTICES OF MOTION. j The following motions from various lodges, of which notice had been given, were discussed: CONSOLIDATION OF FUNDS. Thei following motion emanating from the Excelsior (New Plymouth) Lodge was probably the most important measure brought- forward That the rules of the Taranaki district relating to the sick and funeral fund of lodges be- rescinded, and that from the first day of January, 1926, the sick and funeral fund of the lodges in the district be consolidated into a- district sick and funeral fund, and that the rates of the Auckland district referring to the consolidation of the sick and funeral fund of the lodges in that district be adopted and registered as the rules of the Taranaki district in relation to the consolidation of the lodges’ sick and funeral fund. As during the year the Management Committee had visited; all lodges and debated tliis subject the Grand Master ruled against further discussion and put the issue to the vote of delegates, with the result that the motion was lost. The delegates voting against the proposal represented 090 lodge members, while those in favour represented fib 1 members. On the motion of the Grand Master, the- Management Committee and district officers were accorded a. hearty vote of thanks for the fairness which had- marked their debates on the subject with the lodges concerned. M A N A CEMENT LEVY. There was considerable discussion on the question of reducing the annual managemetn levy from Gs to 5s per member per annum, and on the motion of P.D.G.M. Bro. T. It. Clow it was resolved that no reduction be made IMPROPER USE OF INITIALS. A motion from the Excelsior Lodge (New Plymouth) that it he a recommendation to the Board of Directors that steps suould be taken to obtain an injunction against other orders in the Dominion using the -initial letters 1.0.0. F. was productive of a general expression of opinion, that as there was no possibility of obtaining the- desired injunction' the best thing to do in the circumstances was to make the idesignation of the Manchester Unity as- prominent as possible on all printed j matter issued. It was resolved that I the Registrar of Friendly- Societies he approached with the object of establishing a distinctive classification of various orders' operating in the Dorn i n inn. PROPAGANDA. On the motion of Bros. Sage- and Hill a remit- from the Excelsior (Lodge, that it he a recommendation j to this conference that the district • should undertake and control all publications of a propaganda nature, it I was resolved that, the' matter be left to the District Committee with power

to act in preparation of a suitable propaganda, card. Remits from the Loyal Union Lodge (Ha-wera) were dealt with as follows:

SICK PAY

That this distTict’s rules ho added to in order to provide the payment of sick pay from the initiation of members, and that the necessary application bo made to -the actuary for .his approval.—lf approved, the Management Committee is to be authorised to take steps to register the necessary rules. THE STREET SIGN. That the instructions given by the Grand Master and Board of Directors' after the last B.M.C. with regard to instruction of members in the street sign be observed throughout this district. —Cai'ried. ANNUAL PICNIC. That the question of an annual picnic for the Taranaki district be reconsidered. —A wide diversity of opinions were voiced as to the choice of a picnic or social. One obstacle in the way of boding a picnic was the fact that in the district there were thrpie different days on which the weekly half-holiday was observed —Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday—while another difficulty arose in the absence of a centrally situated hall large enough to accommodate the lodge members and their families who favoured a social. —It was resolved to refer the matter back to the Union Lodge for consideration and report to other lodges when a decision is arrived at. PROPOSED LODGE AT PATEA. That it is time steps were taken to open a lodge at Patea. —Carried. COMPLETION OF. VALUATION. The Eltham lodge moved that the board of directors bo asked to urge upon the Registrar of Friendly Societies the necessity of completing the 1625 valuation at an early date. — Carried. LODGE LECTURES. Bro. Marr said that until the district campaign was initiated to expound the pros and cons of the consolidation ot sick and funeral funds the district management committee was practically unknown. The knowledge imparted in this connection by delegates on their visit to Kaponga had prompted his lodge to frame a remit that the management committee for the ensuing year be asked to give lectures at each lodge in the district on matters pertaining to the order. The District Grand Master considered this a step in the right direction. It was resolved that the management committee be requested to arrange with qualified past and present district officers to deliver lectures as suggested. GENERAL. A proposal to inaugurate a district ritual competition among the lodges every six months was referred to the management committee. A general invitation was extended to. lodges throughout the district to take part in ;Lbo procession of friendly societies at 16.30 a.in. on Tuesday next in connection with the Stratford district jubilee celebrations. It was decided that the next conference of deputies would be held at Stratford, the date of same to be determined by the management committee. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the year 1928-29 resulted as follows: District Grand Master, Br. J. M. Bates (Eltham); Deputy District Grand Master, Bro. W. Marr (Kaponga); District Secretary, Bro. N. B. Bellringer (Excelsior) ; District Warden, Bro. F. J. Brabant (Waitara); Trustee, Bro. C. 10. Bellringer (Excelsior); District Treasurer, Bro. T. R. Julian (Egmorit); District Auditor, Mr. A. ,1. Tunbridge (New Plymouth); committee of management and arbitration, Bros. i\. 8. Sago (Union), S. Bolton (Eglwmt), R. D. Dagg (Kaponga), M. Gernhoeffer (Toko), L. It. Little (Excelsior), It. Steer (Midhirst); district book examiner, Bro. N. D. Bellringer; district lodge auditors, Bros. S'. Bolton and H. Holden’; deputies for 1928 8.M.C., Bros. R. D. Dagg, R. 8. Sage, X. B. Bellringer