CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LODGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16358, 30 September 1913, Page 9

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LODGES.

INTERESTING POINT FOR DECISION. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 29. The question of the right of tho central federation of a number of friendly societies to require certain contributions from branches was argued in the Supremo Court to-day. Plaintiffs were the trustees of Court Sir Charles Napier of Foresters, Hawkes' Bay, and the defendants the District Court of the same Order. The questions advanced were:—Can a friendly society alter its rules so as to imposo on a member or branch of the .society tho amount of benefits actually received under the existing rules of the society? (2) Can a friendly society by alteration of its rules require a branch society to transfer contributions of a separate and distinct fund to another fund of the society, having objects and purposes not different in their general nature and ' materially different in their practical scope from tho first mentioned fund? and (3) Whether these questions are not questions affecting the contribution of the society and fundamental rights _of members and branches of tho societies. Tho amount involved is about £7OO. After argument the case was adjourned in order that the Chief Justice might ascertain tho position in tho Court of Appeal.