Friendly Societies Druid Leaders Visit North

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1938, Page 9

Friendly Societies Druid Leaders Visit North

Thcvo was a great assembly of Druids from Whangarei, Ruawai and Dargaville recently when a re-union , was held to mark the visit to the district of three Grand Lodge officers, j namely. Grand President. Bro. A. L. Williams. Past Grand President, Bro. Gregory, who is also chairman of the Dominion Friendly Societies’ Council, and Grand Secretary. Bro. J. Laugh- | ton. Arch Druid Bro. J. Lees, Dargaj vilie. presided, and he was assisted j by P.D.P, Bro. R. Dunn, who acted as I ] toastmaster. | After a very sumptuous repast had j j been partaken of P.D.P. Bro. W, | j Flower, of Whangarei. advanced the ! toast of “Grand Lodge.” Membership And Funds. The Grand President stated that the North Island Grand Lodge consisted of 96 lodges with a membership of 14,000. Druidism did not embrace politics or religion, it was one of the finest and broadest studies of culture, and even the poorest child may make a ruler. There were now 267 sisters attached to 41 lodges in the Order and the in- . crease in membership last year totalled 413. The Order was now i in a position to meet all its liabilities, so full assurance could be given to any now member. The total funds were £828,323. the increase for the past year being £15,619. The benefits paid out last year amounted to £46,999, of which the maternity bonus accounted for £4,099. At the moment assistance was being given to 200 members from the Benevolent Fund. He was hopeful that in the near future it would be possible to reduce the contributions of members over a certain age. Last year the claims on the Sick and Funeral Fund did not come up to actuarial expectations. The investments were sound and the returns therefrom good. Social Security Plan, Past Grand President Bro. W. 'Gregory referring to the proposed social security scheme, stated that fear was the most’ dominant factor prevalent at the present day, especially if the wage-earner were incapacitated, and any movement that would alleviate or remove fear was very desirable and worthy of the utmost support. “There is no idea in the mind of the Government of putting its hands on the funds of the registered friendly societies whatever,” continued the speaker. “There has been some reference to that aspect in the Press, but I can assure you that our funds will remain intact. The Dominion Council of Friendly Societies has kept a close watch on all the evidence tendered to the Select Committee of the House of Representatives . on this question and your interests are being safeguarded. What the Select Committee desires is that the distribution of benefits by friendly societies shall work in with the Government’s scheme. Societies In Accord. The societies, however, had impressed on the committee that with regard to sick benefits they could do this part more efficiently than a State office, and with this contention the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance had agreed. The friendly societies want to have the right for any person to join up, irrespective of whether he or she belonged to a State scheme or not and whether incapacitated or not. The societies had put their views before Cabinet and were given a very good hearing. Matters at the present time have not been finalised, but I can assure you that we will not be worse off than we are ! now. When the scheme comes into j operation it will allow of us being stronger in membership than we are today.” (Applause). ! Grand Secretary, Bro. Laughton, in paying tribute to the thrift and work of the pioneers in the Order, stated that it was first founded in 1877. Other Toasts. Other toasts honoured during the j evening were "The Pioneers of the i Order,” proposed by P.D.P. Bro. j ! Dodds and responded to by P.D.P. j | Bro. W. Reynolds, P.D.P. Bro. Smeule, j ! Past Secretary Bro. R. Hughes, and j j P.D.P. Bro. R. Dunn. “The Ladies,” j i sponsored by P.D.P. Bro. Davenport j j and acknowledged by Sister Williams, j ! "The Artists,” proposed by Secretary Bro. Clendon Gould and replied to by Mr Sanders, and "The Press” proposed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, j Presentations. The Grand President on behalf of j the Dargaville Lodge, Northern Oak, presented Sister R. E. L. Meharry with j 1 a Past Arch diploma and invested her i with a Past Arch collar. j P.D.P. Bro. J. Lees presented the Ruawai Lodge* with a silver cup, which is to be the subject of a com- j petition among its members over a period of two years and to be won ny the member securing the greatest number of new members. ! Items were contributed by Miss M. j Matich, Sister Dunsford, Mr J. E. j Sander, Bro. Alexander P.A.. and Bro. j Weston P.D.P. 1 * | STAR OF WHANGAREI LODGE. 1.0.0. F. The meetings of the Star of Whangarei Lodge. No. 89, 1.0.0. F. (N.Z.). held since the last; report have been well attended, and presided over by the Noble Grand, Bro. W. Woodgate, 1 The meeting hold on July 12 was | initiation night, and three candidates l wore initiated into the Order and ’ afterward? welcomed by the merh-

j bers. At the conclusion of business i supper was served and afterwards 1 some members participated in bowls j and cards. ! On Tuesday. July 26. the annual ritual competition took place. This is a competition between Past Grand officers and the present officers occupying chairs, for the Ferguson Shield. The judges, Past Grands Bros. A. M. Woods and Jensen, declared the Past Grands .the winners by a small margin after a splendid performance by both teams in ritualism. ' j The Noble Grand and a carload of ! members paid a visit to Northern Wairoa Lodge (Te Kopuru) on MonI day. July 18, and spent an enjoyable I evening. I '