INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 7

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

SICK FUNDS TO BE CENTRALISED. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, March 20. Tho Grand Lodge session was resumed (his morning at 10 o'cloel;, when, in addition to the delegates named yesterday, Bro. K. Robb, tho representative of the Last Coast and Hawkc's Bay, was present. After further consideration of the Grand Secretary's report, the whole of the reports and balance sheets were adopted. Tho question of centralisation of tho sick fund was then taken up, beinp.introduced by Bro. Kemnitz (Dunedin). A lengthy discussion ensued, the Grand Lodge proving almost unanimously in favour of the principle. Two delegates only opposed tho proposal to pay half-benefits during the second six months of membership. Tilio motion was carried unanimously. In favour of centralisation tho arguments urged were: (1) The advantage of havingono solid phalanx of 4000 members, instead of scattered lodges of from 18 to 250 mem'here; (2) more rapid accumulation of interest, which would enable tho dream of a moderate pension to aged members to be realised in the course of time; (3) there would bo a united capital of £50,000 to defy the dangers by which members of lodges may bo beset, and they -would then belong to an institution so strong in its financial standing that no combination of circumstances, except their own default, could lose their hold on (lie benefit funds. A certain amount of opposition was offered to the. plan of working introduced by tlio committco appointed at last session, and after iv debate a committee of eight was set. up to formulate a plan of working, to bo subnylted at tho evening session. Resuming at 7.30, a plan of inanageiiisent, prepared by the committee was considered, and eventually adopted. The following resolution was put and carried by 15 to 2: —"That the sick funds of the order bo centralised and vested in the executive officers of the Grand Lodge in accordance with the resolutions of tho committee just adopted." Tho necessary two-thirds majority having been obtained, centralisation will take effect on January 1, 1903. Tho scheme was first before the Grand Lodge in 1887, and at various limes since. The almost unanimous vote of to-day is regarded as very satisfactory. Amendments moved by the Auckland representatives and adopted increase the allowance to officers travelling on' Grand Lodge business from 10s to 15s per day. To-morrow tho lodge meets at 9.30. and in the afternoon will be driven lo Maheno. In tlio evening they will bo entertained at a banquet, at. Enfield.