MANCHESTER UNITY ODDFELLOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13392, 22 January 1907, Page 7

MANCHESTER UNITY ODDFELLOWS.

A PROORF.SSIYK SOCIETY.

The 1907 Official Handbook, issued by the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (Auckland district), is to hand. It contains some 90 odd pages of letterpress, in addition to ten excellent half-tone reproductions of prominent members of the order. A deal of information of interest to Oddfellows is contained within its covers. Figures and tables are given comparing the society progress, and in many cases these figures appear .stupendous. The membership exceeds 1.000,000. and the capital value exceeds £13.000.000. In 1905 the total income exceeded £1.500.C00, while the sum paid in I sick and funeral claims during that year was over £1,000.000. The membership of the Auckland district exceeds 3000, and the accumulated funds are over £75.000. Two pages of the Handbook are devoted to information which, to say the least, is almost startling. It relates to payments made to some 26 mem Iters in the Auckland district. A member of the Charles Bruce Lodge (Thames') is .said to have received £930 13s 4d in sick benefits, and continues to draw his weekly allowance. The. Waikato 1/edge (Thames) lias paid £3280 4s 7d to six memtn'rs, £713 fas 8d being paid to one member and the following sums to others: —£560 16s Bd. £634 13s 4-d. £578 2s lid. J £431 12s 4d. and £261 12s Bd. The Fountain of Friendship Lodge (Auckland) has also paid av.av in benefits the following sums: — £659. £472 2s 6d. £426 10s, £359, £514. £287. £282 15s. £262, and £240 16s—a total of £3330 os 6d to nine members. The (Jood intent Ixxlge (Auckland) also supplies figures relating to nine members who have been unfortunate enough to lie laid aside by .sickness. The figures aro as follows;—£sl6 16s 6d. £395 13s. £330 14s, £256 3s 4d. £242.

£234 14, 4d. £233 12s fed. £233 3s 4d. £230

15s — a total for nine members of £2673 lis. The Farnell Lodge, although a young society, lias one ruernl>er who has drawn £258. This table shows that some 26 members in five lodges connected with the Manchester Unity Oddfellows in Auckland district have drawn the enormous sum of £10,495 2s 5d in sick benefit-. A foot-note explains, however, that these figures are in a good many cases understated owing to early record* not being available. The figures we have quoted make interesting reading, and are a proof of the substantial benefits to be gained through joining a friendly society of the stability of the Manchester Unity. The outstanding feature of the figures quoted, however, is that members have been enabled to participate in these benefits during life, anil it may fairly be assumed that the weekly allowanet? granted has helped to cheer many a sorrow-stricken home. These figures are ab-o an indication of what friendly societies have been able to achieve in the way of making their members independent of " charity." Apart from the information quoted the look is a iTio=t useful compendium, and may truly he termed a vado mecum to members 'if the older. It is issued gratis and is a most creditable production. Those resiKinsibio for its compilation are deserving of every credit, and wo feel sure they will have the gratitude of every member of the order in Auckland district.