ODDFELLOWS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11652, 17 October 1923, Page 3

ODDFELLOWS

HELPING LAME DOGS. CONSOLIDATING THE LODGES. Mr Thomas Aitken, of Auckland, wellknown for bis long association wiJth Rugby football in Auckland and Thames, his early experiences of Thames during the days of the gold rush and its later agricultural development, is at present in Wellington attending meetings of the diiectors of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, New Zealand branch, of which he has been a director for the last tea or twelve years, and has been through all the chairs and offices of the Auckland lodge. SOUND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. Chatting with a 'Times'* reporter yesterday he stated that there were twelve districts in the New Zealand branch, which included all the North Island ana the South Island, with the exception of Lyttelton, South Canterbury, Southland, and Otago. The directors nave just received the valuations and find that tne whole of the districts except the West Ccast are in a very satisfactory and solvent condition. Those ledges having a surplus decided to make good the deficiency by providing .£5300 required to the West Coast in a satisfactory Ucancial position. Mining districts have hud a bad spin for the last few years, but the financial lodges have now consolidated them, and put them on a sound basis WHEN THE WAR CAME. When the war broke out, said Mr Aitken, the Government, recognising the gieat liabititv that would be cast on friendly societies by 'having to pay sick pay to members who were sick or wound- j e l at Home, passed an act to relieve the societies from the payment of bene- i fits under these circumstances, hut the. New Zealand branch of the Manchesterl Unity was the only large society which ] di • not take advantage of the Act, but paid its members wheA laid up either by sickness or wounds in the Old Country. This involved them in an expenditure of .£20,000, and provision has been made at this meeting of directors to pay off the balance fcf the liability so. incurred. Special levies were made on the twelve districts to make up the required amount. In addition to this the Now Zealand branch, in common with other friendly societies, by special levy on their members, provided for the contributions of all members who went to the front until they returned to the i>ominion. MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN. Necessarily during the war no new members were made, hut since the termination there has been a remarkable increase. Over 1000 were admitted last year, while this year’s figures promise to create a 'ec»*rd The present raemoership is about 18,000. The first branch of tho order was established in Nelson in 1842. but the New Zealand branch, which amalgamated all the districts' except the four previously mentioned, was formed nearly 20 years ago. Mr Aitken regards it only a matter of time when the whole of the lodges in the Dominion will come within the New Zealand branch. The funds of the order in New Zealand amount to 14 millions. ADMITTING WOMEN. During the last twelve months there has been a growing tendency to admit women in larger numbers to the order, especially in the north, although it haa been done on a small scale for a few years past. The result has been to considerably develop the social life of the members. To-day, he concluded, the order is in a more sound position, financially and numerically, than ever it was. The report of an interview with Mr Aitken appears on page 5 of this morning’s "Times/*