M.U.I.O.O.F.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10601, 22 February 1896, Page 3

M.U.1.0.0.F.

SPECIAL DISTP.ICT MEETING.

A special meeting of the Otago District, H.U.1.0.0 F., was held on Thursday evening at the Distriot Chambers, Stuart street;. Prov. G.M. Bro. Hopcroft presided, the vice-chair being occupied by fche Deputy P.G.M. Bro. Clarke. There were about 30 delegates present from the various lodges ia fche district.

Ths business oE the meeting was the consideration of fonr tables of contributions and benefits, with the object of recommending one of them for adoption by all the districts throughout the colony. Circulars containing the tables had been sent to all districts, and the replies received, while differing as to the scale which should be adopted, had concurred in the advisability of holding a conference of representatives at an early date.

'The discussion of fche tables ooenpied three hours, a motion fco adopt No. 3 giving rise to several amendments. This scale provided for a sickness benefit of 20s per week for the first 12 months' sickness, and 10s per week for any sickness after a continuous sickness of 12 months; a funeral benefit of £30 on the death qf a member, but if the member be married and his wife died before him, £10 should be paid to him afc her death aud the remaining £20 at the death of the member. While the accuracy, from au actuarial point of view, of the rates of contributions laid down in this and the other tables was not questioned, ifc was evidently the opinion of the majority of the delegates that as they proposed a considerable addition to the rate now in force it would be , highly inexpedient to select any of them. Though it was admitted that the present scale of contributions was inadequate, yet it was urged fchafc any great increase at this time would be a suicidal act. No necessity had been shown for such a step ; under the present rates the lodges as a whole were fairly prosperous, several of them being in possession of considerable surpluses. On the ether hand, it was pointed out that lodges could not look forward to obtaining the high rates of interest they had been receiving in the pasfc, that it might be even difficult to secure the actuarial 4 per cent., and that in view of this fact an adequate standard of contributions Bhould at least be insisted upon. Several speakers advooatsd an amendment of the Friendly Societies Act in the direction of giving the registrar power to refuse registration to any society's rules unless they contained adequate rates of contributions for the benefits promised, and to require also fchat all the societies at present working under fche act should amend their rules in this direction.

The amendment that was finally agreed upou was to the effe<^ that this district leaves to', the conference which is proposed to be held in Wellington at Easter the selection of a table of benefits and contributions which shall be mosfc suitable for the colony as a whole, ifc being understood that tbe table then decided upon would be submitted again to the several districts for further consideration before final adoption.

The appointment of delegates to the conference was postponed until the annual district meeting in March, and the meeting then closed.