ODDFELLOWS CONFER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10850, 16 March 1921, Page 9

ODDFELLOWS CONFER

BIENNIAL SESSION WORLD-WIDE PROGRESS REPORTED. i r ' GREAT ACTIVITY. > - l 1 The Grand Lodge officers and represen--1 tative* of the 1.0.0. F. met yesterday morning in the Dominion Farmers' Institute, j Bio. K. Robb (Gisborne), Grand Master, l presiding. The respresentatives comprise 1 delegates from the whole of New Zealand, and the Grand Lodge officers preseut , were: Bros. William Hunter (Christchurch), J.P.G.M.; C- J. Talbot (Fairlie), D.G.M.; M. J. Hooper (Auckland), i G.W-? William Reid (Dunedin), G.S.; L. Deans Ritchie (Dunedin), G.T. P.G. ’ Master Bro. Valentine is acting as assistant secretary. After the usual opening ceremonies and the welcoming of delegates by the presiding officer, the Grand Lodge went into committee to consider the various reports. PROGRESS OF ORDER. The Grand Secretary's statement disclosed the following: The term which lias just passed has been characterised by an activity unexampled in our history and which if continued will soon enaule us to realise our aspiration to reach the 10,009 mark of membership. The visit of a Grand §ire of the Sovereign Grand Lodge is an event which has been long looked for, and has at last materialised jn the visit of Grand Sire Bro. Henry V. Borst who, accompanied by Mrs Borst, made a tour of Australasia. The impression made ,by their charming personality and their interesting and educative addresses has raised a spirit of loyalty to the Sovereign Grand Lodge which cannot fail to cement the relations which have always existed between ‘ the Sovereign Grand Lodge and the Jurisdiction of New Zealand. The visit of the Grand Lodge of Australasia—the only one in the 43 years 1 of its existence —was another event which helped to stimulate our membership, and which has left an imijression on the Order in New Zealand which will not soon be effaced, and the whole-hearted welcome and hospitality they received was; acknowledged by them to be beyond all precedent. INCREASED BENEFITS. The question of increased benefits is one that has been before our jurisdiction in yeais gone by, but hus never met with acceptance. Conditions have altered, the purchasing power of the sovereign has decreased, and it may t*s desirable to increase the benefits to make them in some degree proportionate to their lessened purchasing power. The tendency is in 'the direction of ' making Friendly Societies mere insurance societies. This is to be strongly ..deprecated and would be strongly opposed, by those who enter our ranks more for the fraternal side than the practical. At no period in its history has the 1.0.0. F. of New Zealand displayed more activity than now. Two new lodges were opened since last- report, making the number of lodges on the roil 97." The membership at last report was 7261, and .it now stands at 7965, an increase of 7-0-1 during the year. The sickness experienced during the past year | cost , practically .£7OOO. The total assets of the Grand Lodge are X14;5,:114, an increase of X'IO,CO9. Dealing with the female branch of the Order the grand secretary reported that the memherebip totalled approximately 1000, an addition of 320 for the past year. Juvenile ledges in the jurisdiction are still maintaining their position. It is interesting to note that the total membership of the Order throughout the world is 2,371,735, while the total relief paid an 1919 was X 1,497,4-71, and the total invested funds X 16,756,34-9. TREASURER'S RETORT. The Grand. Treasurer’s report mentions the fact that the payment of X 3003 from the national provident fund shows that thanks are due to tho Government for providing a benefit that is distinctly valuable to thoee members that are in a position to apply for it. Funeral claims for the last year amount to XI4BO. while the payment of old members’ dues involves quite a large sum. The various funds are in credit as follows:—Sick, X 94,211; funeral, X 39.475 ■ while the acturial valuation showed a surplus of X 27,460, an increase of X 14.752 during the quinquennial period, a state of affairs probably not equalled by any other friendly society in the Dominion. LAST NIGHT’S RECEPTION FLOURISHING CONDITION OF THJfI ORDER. Last night a reception was tendered to Grand Lodge office re and district representatives m the Dominion Farmers' Institute conference hall- Bro. C. J. Sullivan, D.D.G.M.. presided. Many interesting speeches, largely reminiscent, were made during the evening, many of the speakers emphasising the great progress made by the Order in the /past, and what it is lioped to do in the future. Figures quoted showed that members of the Order have reason to feel gratified at the financial position, a result which was only obtained by careful management and maintaining a progressive policy. An enjoyable programme was contributed to by Miss Bailey, Messrs W. Church, and W. H. Probyn, and Bro M. E. Nolan. A large number of toasts was honoured.