I.O.O.F., M.U.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 62, 23 February 1911, Page 11

I.O.O.F., M.U.

ANNUAL DLStIHUT MEETING. The annual meeting of the Hawke s Bax' District of the New Zealand Branc h of the Mam Hester "Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows was Heid in the Oddfellow s Hall, Hastings, yesterday afternoon. The following delegates were present r -Napier. I*.P.G.M. Bro. T. Krogh. P.P.tl. Bro. .1. Thomas. P.G. Bro. 11. Bid!. P.G. Bro. N. Whitton, N.G. Bro H. J. Harman ; Meaner, P.G. Bro. AV. G. Jarvis ; Abbotsford. P.P.G.M. Bro. Me UoUict, P.G. Bro. L. Pratley, N.G. Bro. JH .Harris; Olive. P.G. A. Gardine; Hastings, P.P.G.M. Bro. G. D. Love. P. G. Bro. A. E. Boyle, P.G. Bro. T. Keith. N.G. Bro J. Davidson ; Tavistock. G.M. Bro. R. McLean. P.G. Bro. (’. Stowe ißuahine. P.G. Bro. F. Gnndrie, G.M. Bro. D. E. Eddie ; Forest Home, P.G. Bro. Newbury, V.G. Bro. Vartosch; Dannevirke. V.G. Bro. C. H. Brown, N.G. Bro. <f E. Weigel. P-G. Bro. D. H, White. -The Woodville Branch wrote appologising for the absence of delessate& Provincial Grand Master J. P. Williamson presided. It was decided to telegraph fraternal greeting to the district meeting of the A.O.F. now being held at Norsewood. P.G. Bro. H. Bull was elected minute secretary. The Provincial Grand Master’s address was as follows: — PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS.

Worthy Deputy and Delegates: here assembled— 1 ! It is with great pleasure I wel-' come you to this our thirty-third | annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay District, and on behalf of our Hartings brethren give you a hearty welcome to their progressive town. During 1910, just on the eve of Hie sitting of the annual Movable Conference, the Nation was thrown into the deepest grief by the sudden death of our late beloved King Edward VII., and it was only a few dag* prior to this that it was anticipated our annual Conference and Centenary meeting at Southampton would receive Royal recognition by the persona] attendance of H.R.H. tile Prince of Wales, now His Majesty King George V. The Centenary banquet and other joyful festivities ware postponed wmi a later period in the year. During November the celebration «f the Centenary of the Manchester Unity was world-wide—and in our own district I had the honor of attending the celebrations at Hastings, Napier, Dannevirke, and Waipawa, and regret I was unable to be present with our brethren at OrmondriUe and Wairoa. In all these places very enthusiastic and representative meetings were held, and it is pleasing to record the evident cure that was manifest in the preparation and carrying out of these important meetings, when we desired to let the Dominion know Hurt our hundredth birthday was but the renewal of our youth. Our hope for the future is that members win realise their individual responsibility and be inspired with a spirit of earnestness, so that the second century of the Unity shall be to further extend its usefulness, and that members will be determined to show themselves worthy of our glorious traditions. It was our privilege to have the Biennial Movable Committee sit in Napier during Easter week. The meetings were marked by the earnest and careful attention paid to the business, and it was an education to a* one of your aelegates, to be present.

Very important additions to the rales were made, viz., new Rule 21a, which provides for the centralising of the funeral funds of all Lodges in the New Zealand branch, and Rule 21b gives members the opportunity of increasing their funeral benefits. This is a very important rule, and worthy of the attention of every member in the dis-trict-providing for an increase of funeral benefits for sums of £25, £3O, £75. or £lOO, at a very low yet an adequate rate of contribution. Provision was also made for members clearing from one Lodge to another in the New Zealand Branch, to join the new Lodge at the rate of contributions as at the age they joined the Lodge they bring their clearance from. The National Provident Fund came into operation on the Ist January, and I sincerely hope it may be the means of encouraging thrift, and inculcating into the minds of the people of New Zealand the necessity of providing for their old age. I regret it provides for a return of contributions if a member so desires, so many at a time of momentary financial stress will take advantage of this provision, and afterwards regret it. I

also cannot understand why a limit J should be placed upon a man’s in- ■ come to be eligible to contribute —! if the rates of contributions are adequate—a sincle man with aiii income of £195 may join, but a ■ married man with an income of £2<«s. and having perhaps a iarce family t<> support, would be debarred. Th»> financial position of the Unity will be fully dealt with in the Management Committee's report, but I take this opportunity «•: congratulating th-' District on the !splendid results of its last five years’ working, a- -t.own by the /Actuary’s report as at 31st Decern- ; her. !!>*«’. With th--e -plendi'i re ,; suits, it makes one wonder if ot.r surpluses could not ! >»• put tn a better use than at present. If a . table was drawn un showing the . amount necessary for a member to . 'pay, so that at age 60 or 65 yt-ars a member’s contributions to Sick . and Funeral Fund should cease, j . and that members availing them-1 /selves of this table, on arriving at I . ‘the stated age. should draw a week,’ly allowance of H> - per week for , ‘ the remainder of hi* Me, but not be eligible to claim sick pay, a J table such as this would help to >. 1 popularise the Unity and put our | surpluses to some definite and use- ►. i ful purpose, or members should be l given the opportunity, by paying h | an extra weekly contribution to the , t | Sick and Funeral Fund, of receivg ; ing the same benefits.

t In conclusion I must thank the | district officers for their ready and ’ capable assistance to me during the I last year, which has been a very I I busy one. In the Prov. Cr. Secre- | tary we have a very painstaking I and capable official, whose ideal of | Friendly Society’s work is a very ; high one. and it is mainly through 1 him the Lodges in this district have I attained to the proud positions they at present occupy. My term of office as your Provincial Cirand Master is drawing to a close. I feel my shortcomings, but my earnest desire has been to always advance the interests of our Loyal Order. I sincerely hope that the Society will continue its mission in social and domestic life, winning still greater triumphs in the century we have now entered on. DISTRICT MANAGEMENT i COMMITTEE’S REPORT. ( The District Manager’s report 1 stated that the past year had been j an important one in the history of | the Order, it having celebrated its * centenary in October last. On Deci ember 31st. 1909, the membership I was 1.035.627. showing an increase | during the year of 1957. The capital ; fund at that date amounted to £14.>767.329 H 2. showing an increase of (funds during the year of £431,598 117 -. As showing the sound finan-l (cial position of the Unity from an ■ actuarial point of view the board

of directors approved of the appropriation of surplus capital on valuation of districts and lodges during 1908 of £37,98-2 15-8. This large ap- | propriation did not include the self-governing branches of the Unity, which worked under their j own boards of directors. Out of ■ the said appropriation the sum of; £-215.3 15- was devoted to the > funds of distressed lodges. On' December 31. 1909. the total meni-i bership of all registered Friendly'■ Societies in New Zealand was 64,-I 42S with funds amounting to £l.266.296 5.3. In these figures thej M inchcM cd Unity showed a mem-J bership of 22.018 and funds amount-1 ing to £606.159 6 11. The amounts' paid by the Unity in New Zealand during the rear. 1909. were as follows:- Sick pay. £25.352 : medical at tendance and medicine. £20.781 ; funeral donations. £50.502. M ith regard to the Hawke’s Bay District the membership on January Ist. j 1910, was 13.39. During the year 105 were admitted, while 5-8 left b.v I arrears and clearance, and 13 died, J leaving an increase of 34 for the ' yrnt'. The funds had increased by j £2208/18’1 (hiring the year. The valuation reports received from the Registrar of Friendly Societies had been highly satisfactory. The Registrar of Friendly Societies had given authority for the Napier, Clive, Abbotsford, Hastings, Tavistock. Woodville, Forest Home, and Dannevirke Lodges to appropriate all interest and rents receiv-

|ed by the Sick and Funeral Funds lover 5 per cent, to the management or other funds, subject to certain conditions. The accounts for the district for the past year were sub- ■ mitted by the secretary. In conI elusion, the committee invited mem- ’ bers, if time would permit, to disI cuss the provisions of the National i Provident Fund Act. The report was adopted. It was decided that a register of securities be kept of all lodges. The recommendation of the Management committee that the contribution per member be 1 '3 per half year was adopted. In reply to a question, the Grand Master stated a member of one district transferring to another district would have to pay the rate for the age of 20 years as laid down in the branch to which they were being transferred. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. The salary of the corresponding secretary (Bro. J. B. Feiider) was increased form £3O to £5O. and he was also granted a bonus of £lO for his services during the past year. The Provincial Grand Master said that he was in a better posii tion to know the amount of work I attached to the position of corresponding secretary than anyone else and he considered the present

salary was totally inadequate for I the work entailed and the time it | occupied. I Bro. Fielder returned thanks for 1 the unexpected recognition of his services. • EXAMINERS OF LODGE BOOKS REPORT. It was decided that the report; of the Examiners of Lodge Books be printed. j ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ; The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :— Provincial ’ Grand Master. — P.D.G.M. Bro. G. D. Love, Hastings Lodge. ! Provincial Deputy Grand Master - P.G. Bro. W. F. Gundrie, I?uaj Line Lodge. • i Auditors.—-P.G. s Bros, H. AV. 1 Whitton. R. Lydford and P.P.G.M. j [Bro. L. A. P, Krogh, Napier' i Lodge. . ' i Lodge Book Examiners. — P.P.G.M. Bro. W. G. Martin and [ P.S. Bro. H. Bull. Napier Lodge. j One member of Management \ Committee,- P.P.G.M, Bro. T. 1 Krogh, Napiev Lodge. j Nine members of Arbitration .Committee, —P.P.G.M.’s Bros. S. Cooper. W. G. Martin. D. Me-' i Intyre, J, Wolstenholme, G. Love, ,P.G,’s Bros. H. W, Whitton, W !M. Newbould; P.S. Bro. H. Bull /and P.S. Bro. R. Fennell. j It was decided to hold the next 'annual district meeting at Tiko- ' kino.

The new officers were duly installed by the P.P.G.M. A vote of thanke was passed to the retiring officers. It was received that P.P.G.M. Bro. Williamson be placed on the Merit Board, and that the be recommended for a P.P.G.M. degree; also that he be presented with a P.P.G.M.’s jewel and regalia. The meeting then closed.