The Druids' Dispute.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8199, 27 January 1906, Page 5

The Druids' Dispute.

In the course of their report on Hie dispute between the North Island Grand Lodge, U.A.0.D., and the Lodge .Pacific (Wellington), the inspectors found as follows iu regard to two of the charges : — Execution of agreement in the name of the society with regard to the affiliation of V ictorian lodges ; granting privileges in connection therewith, which were unauthorised ultra vires and detrimental to the members of the society. This referred particularly so tke admission of three lodges—Aiati, Excelsior, and Star of the West. The inspectors considered that the executive honestly did their best in the interests of the Order in New Zealand. The advantages of adding tins lodges to the number of the New Zealand lodges may reasonably be considered to have outweighed the price at which they were taken. Applicants' arguments were groundless, and the entirely failed to substantiate the charge. The pa. ment of Grand Lodge funds in respect of the deaths of persons who were not legally entitled to benefits, and making levies on Lodges in respect thereto. Consideration of this was involved in that of charge B. The inspectors considered that the charge (C) had not been sustained. The inspectors much regretted fhat this inquiry was considered necessary, a proceeding which, while provided for in the Friendly Societies' Act, was one that hitherto had not been called into operation by any friendly society in New Zealand. They thought that the fraternal spirit inculcated by all friendly societies, guided by a liberal interpretation of the rules, and mutual forbearance, should have sufficient influence to confine disputes for settlement within the jurisdiction of their own appointed tribunals. It Avas the duty of all members o£ a society to treat each other with the utmost fairness, as it was also their duty to take care that the machinery provided in their rules for this purpose was ample and complete. A perusal of the rules of the U.A.O.D. for the North Island of New Zealand, to tke inspectors' minds, showed that in many respects they were iu need of amendment, and that further rules were required to meet deficiencies, some of' which had become apparent during the inquiry. The inspectors though this a suitable opportunity to urge upon all lodges the desirability of availing themselves of the services of a public auditor for inspection and audit of the annual balance-sheets. In conclusion, the inspectors pointed out that they had endeavoured to give every facility for an impartial investigation, and they trusted that all irritation would disappear, and that both sides would work for the advancement of the Order, which in recent years had made such magnificient progress in the North Island of New Zealand.