ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8902, 19 September 1889, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

NORTH CANTERBURY DISTRICT. At the half-yearly meeting of the North Canterbury District, held at the house of Bro J. Woodard, Glentunnel, there were present—Bros G. H. Wiuny, Prov G.M.; D. Kennealy, Prov D.G.M.; Charles Poster, Prov C.S,; W. G. Napier, P.G., Tyler, and delegates from the following Lodges—Kaiapoi, (Benevolent, Perseverance, Volunteer, Malvern, Phillipstown, Addington, Coleridge, Papanui, Riccarton, and Jubilee. The Prov G.M. expressed surprise at the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge not being represented, and deliveredan address, from which the following extracts are taken :

Delegates will have noticed from reports in the daily papers that the Grand Warden of a kindred Society has been endeavouring to make capital out of the Registrar’s report. He evidently wishes to impress on the general public the idea that the majority of Lodges in that Society show a surplus, and that other Societies do not, I must draw your attention to a few figures taken from the Registrar’s report. Our Society has a membership in Hew Zealand of 9995, with a capital in the benefit fund of £194,161, or an average per member of .£lB 9a 6d. The report also shows that foity-five of our Lodges show a surplus. The membership of A.C., 1.0.0. P., is given as 743, with a capital in the benefit fund of .£9538, or an average per member of £l2, and that fifteen of their Lodges show a surplus. Referring more particularly to our own District we find that our position at the date of our last valuation was not unsatisfactory. It ia true that some of our smaller Lodges are not in quite as good a position as wo could wish, but against this we find that all our principal Lodges are in a very good position indeed. Our total membership at that date was 1357, with a capital in the benefit fund of £19,194, or an average of £l4 per member. Although this ia very satisfactory I hope and believe that the next valuation will find our District in a still better position, I wish to draw attention to a matter of interest to all the Societies. I refer to the proposed amendments in the Friendly Societies Act and the Local Rating Act, in which the Government are kindly endeavouring to obtain exemption lor Benefit Societies from local rating on their properties. I feel that this is an exemption to which we are quite entitled, and I notice with regret that some of the local bodies are strongly objecting to it, chiefly on the grounds that they cannot afford to lose the money. Surely this is very short-sighted policy on their part, as the Societies undoubtedlysave the ratepayers alarge amount annually in expenditure on Charitable Aid, if in no other way, and the better our funds are conserved the better our position will be for carrying out the objects we have in view. 1 only hope the amendment will be carried and become law.

After dealing with the ordinary routine business, the proposed amendments to the District rules were considered, the following being among the most important alterations ra9fl», up-rofiv;—Rule 25 being amended so us w euaoie Lodges to advance two Lodge nights’ contributions to members owing fourteen weeks, so that they may not run out of compliance on this advance being made. It will be the duty of the Secretary to notify the members receiving same, requesting that the Lodge be informed if such members still intend to remain members of the Society, such

advance to bo a first claim on any amount paid, or sick pay or funeral claim that may become due to the members referred to. The scale of initiation fees as contained in Rule 23 was struck out, and it was resolved that a nominal charge of £s be made for all candidates proposed. A P.G.’s Lodge was held, and a number of the local brethren received their respective degrees. At the conclusion of the business', the visitors had the pleasure of inspecting Mr M/llraith’s extensive pottery works, Mr Smart the energetic Manager kindly explaining the various methods used in preparing the clay for the potters’ art. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a dinner at the Glentunnel Hotel, prepared by Host Reynolds. Between forty and fifty assembled, and did ample justice to the good things provided. During the evening the usual toasts peculiar to such occasions were given, interspersed with songs, &c. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Loyal Coleridge Lodge for the princely manner in which they had entertained the visitors, and a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by singing “ God Save the Queen.”