TARANAKI ODDFELLOWS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 29 March 1935, Page 9

TARANAKI ODDFELLOWS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED DISTRICT OFFICER’S REPORT Steady progress was reported to delegates at the 69th annual district conference of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, held at Manaia' yesterday. There was an attendance of forty delegates repre. senting lodges from Waitara to Hawera and from Opunake to Toko. District Grand Master H. A. Bennett, New Plymouth, presided.

A welcome to Manaia way extended to the delegates by Mr L. P- Garrison, chairman of the Manaia Town Board.

The District Grand Master in his address said that the last few years had indicated the necessity for greater changes in social conditions. Hie day was fast approaching when the voluntary recruiting by friendly societies would be hampered by the imposition of national State health and social in. surance. The friendly societies had provided the machinery for the expression of practical altruism and benevolence. They had enriched public life in all its forms, by moulding the minds of men, developing their judgment and individuality, and strengthening their character. This voluntary organisation had never been an exponent of destruction, but had ' always been, and it was trusted, would always be, a living monument to the constructive genius of the British race, and his deepest convictions were that the State or compulsory insurance would never achieve what the friendly societies movement had already accomplished. “We embarked on 1934 with great hopes, fostered by the successful effort during 1933, and sincere in the purpose to create a further record in the Manchester Unity,” stated the district officers’ report. “That has been achieved and the membership figure at the end of the year stood at 1857, being an 8 per cent, increase on that for the previous j r ear. The difficulties have been great; competition, is extremely keen. The membership of the lodges for the past five years has been: —

The report continued to give a summary of the decisions niade in matters which directly affected overseas organisation. “The sixth ritual efficiency competition has just ended and from the displays given by the various lodges it cannot be denied that there has been a definite general improvement throughout the district in this department. There appears to be a considerable difference of opinion as to the most suitable time of the year for the holding • of these competitions. However, we are of the opinion that as the new rituals and charts will be available after the Christchurch conference it .would be advisable for the competition to be postponed until 1936 and furthermore that possibly the challenge system would be the most desirable form of competition to adopt.” The following officers were elected: The election of officers resulted: District Grand Master, Bro. D. G. Sherson; D.G.M., Manaia; Deputy D.G.M., Bro. T- Renton, P.G., Kaponga; District Warden, Bro. S. J- Bennett, P.D.G.M., Kaponga; trustee, Bro. R. S. Sage, P.D.G.M., Union Lodge; auditor, Bro. A. J. Tunbridge; district book examiner and auditor, Bro. N. B. Bellringer; committee of management and arbitration, Bros. M. Gernhoefer, Toko, J. A. Ross, Manaia, W. Marr, Kaponga, A. J. Brennan, Opvuiake. A. W. Scott, Excelsior, and H. Sonimerfielcl, Stratford; delegates to the 1935 moveable conference, Bros. E. G. Woodley, P.D.G.M., Eltham, and S. Bollon, P.D.G.M., Egmont. The management levy ifor tlie ensuing year was fixed at 4s a member, the committee having power to increase the levy to not more than os per annum should the need arise. An amendment to the district special rule 4, clause I,‘ raised by the Okato lodge, was carried as follows; “Deputies must be of the full age of 21 years • and shall be chosen from the present and past noble grands, vicegrands and financial secretaries of lodges, and who are accredited members of any lodge in the unity. Nominations of district officers for the next conference are as follow: D.G.M., Bro. T. Renton, Kaponga; Deputy G.M., Bros. J. G. Williamson, J. A. Ross, A. W. Scott, Duck, Jemison, Coad, Burn, Brennan, E. Gilhooly and Miller; district warden, Bros. S. J. Bennett and C. Allen. When the next- ritual competition is held in May and June, 1936, the judging will cover two lodges each night, that is to say the judges on one night will cover two different lodges one after another. The question of the expensive nature of the judging decided the deputies on their action. The decision to change .the date to May and Juno instead of February and March was made as the result of a remit by the Kaponga. lodge, the representative .of which suggested that the winter months were more suitable for farmers.

Lodge 1930 1931 1932 1933 . 1934 Central 2 2 2' 2 2 Egmont 2-53 273 296 308 ‘ 332 Excelsior 287 320 257 354 365 AVaitara 67 65 67 75 cy Union 143 156 158 159 158 Manaia 156 167 157 152 173 Eltliam 172 171 . H62 162 160 Midhirst 78 78 77 71 68 Stratford 115 117 120 119 121 Toko 58 53 46 39 46 Kaponga 140 134 133 130 131 Rahotu — 50 74 77 84 Inglewood — 8 17 20 36 Okato — — 3 20 37 Opunake — — — 17 58

Totals 1471 1594 1669 1705 1857