Friendly Societies.

Otago Witness, Issue 1582, 18 March 1882, Page 8

Friendly Societies.

M.U.1.0.0.F

The annual meeting of the Otago District Committee of the M.U.1.0.0.F, was held in the Athenasum Hall, Balclutha, on Saturdayafternoon. There were present — Bro. H. W. Coverlid, Provincial GrandMaster; A. Deacon, Deputy-provincial Grand Master; P. Black, Provincial Corresponding Secretary ; A Sligo, Past Provincial Grand Master ; J. Robin, District Treasurer ; and the following Lodge representatives : — Hand-and-Heart Lodge — Bro. Geddes, P.P.G.M. ; Bro. Kobertson, P.G. j Bro. Hitchcock, P.G. : Bro. Mouat, V.G. Dunedin Lodge— Bro. J. Smith, P.G. ; Bro. Gibbs, N.G. ; Bro. Stuart, E.S. Dalton— Bro. Hogg, N.G. ; Bro. Johnston, P.G. Albion— Bro. Smith, P.G.; Bro. Guthrie, P.G. Tuapeka —Bro. Dunn, P. G. ; Bro. Marr, P. S. Waitahuna —Bro. Turnbtill, P.G. Tapanui— Bro. Reunert, P.G. Prince Alfred Lodge— Bro. Woodland, P.G. ; Bro. Moffat. BlueSpur Lodge— Bro. Hope, P.G. : Bro. Mason, P.G. Alexandra— Bro. Wilson, P.S. Roxburgh— Bro. J. H. Sherwin, P.G. Lake Wakatipu-BroHarrop, P.D.P.G.M Cromwell— Bro. Sligo, P.P.G.M. ; Band of Friendship— Bro. J. Robin, P.P.G.M. Outran) —Bro. Sherwin, P.P.G.M. ; and Bro. Sinclair, P.G. Mosgiel— Bro. Weir, P.G. Caveraham —Bro. Lake, P.G. The Grand Master (Bro. Coverlid) delivered the following address : Worthy Deputy Grand Master and Delegates,— We are assembled to-day on the oceaHion of what must bo considered the piincipal annual event in connection with the district— the meeting at which you are called upon to elect new officers to exercise the executive functions of the d'.sfrjcl i'or the ensuing 12 months. Guy last meeting of District Committee in September was held at the lodgeroom of one of tho younger branches of the district ; to-day wo meet together at the iimtation of the Lodge

that stands third in point of age, and whose name should possess a special interest for U8 as being derived from that of the first Provincial Grand Master of the Otago district— the late Bro. John Dalton. As to-day I retire from the position of Grand Master of the district, an office to which you did me the honour of electing me 12 months ago, I trust I shall not be trespassing on your patience in giving a brief statement of the numerical and financial position of the district as obtained from the lodge returns to the 31st December last. I need not touch upon the more minute details in connection with the returns, as these can easily be obtained from the tables which have been prepared by the worthy C.S., and which, I presume, will as usual be printed with the reports of this meeting. A perusal of these tables will prove both interesting and instructive to brethren taking an interest iv such matters.

I find that during the year ended 31st December, 1881, 129 members joined by initiation and twelve by clearance, making a total of 141, being precisely the same number as joined during 1880. Of those that have left the Society 16 were by clearance and 141 by arrears ; whilst 15 members have died during the year— making a total of 172, as against 200 for the previous year. The total number of members on December 31st was 1531. The number of members experiencing sickness during the year was 196, and the amount of sickness experienced 1591 weeks 3 days, being an - average for the total membership of the district of 1 week 6 hours per member, the average cost being 16s 6d per member. For the sake of comparison it may be interesting to note .that dur- , ing the years 1878, 1879, and 1880 the average amount per member paid for sickness was 12a Id, 13s 4d, and 15s 2d respectively, thus showing an increase in the sickness year by year. It is to > • be hoped that we have now reached the maxi-' " mum for atime, as the ratio for' last year is unpleasantly high, and will not compare very favourably even with the experience of societies in England. It may also be remarked that death - has been unusually busy amongst us during ■ the year.- Fifteen brothers have gone over to • • the majority, amongst whom we may note with special regret the names of P.G. Richard Williams, of the Blue Spur Lodge, and'P.G; Jamea Godso, of the Albion Lodge. Coming now to the financial portion of the returns, I find that the total income from all sources during the year was £7680 Is 6d, ' whilst the expenditure amounted to £5259 7s, • thus showing an excess of receipts over ex- ' penditure of £2420 14s 6d. The total value of lodge funds at the end of the year was £31:050 ' 15s, giving an average per member of £20 4s 108, and is made up as follows :— Value of' lodge ■ sick and funeral funds, '£27,148 8s 3d;' incidental funds, £3199 ss>Bd; other funds, £424 12s 4d ; goods, and lodge furniture, £278 8s 9d. • • The increase in value of lodge funds as com- *-f pared with the 31st December, 1880, is 1 £2365 2s 3d, an increase in value having taken place < • in the case of every lodge except the Tapanui, • which, in consequence of an extraordinary heavy sickness experience (amounting in the ■ average to four weeks nineteen hours per mem- 1 • ber and at a cost of £2 18s 9d'per member) has receded in value to the amount of £55 7s 5d, ", In the matter of the indebtedness of manage- • inent funds to sick' and funeral — always a troublesome question with us in' the past— it is > ' extremely gratifying to find that the sum ' of £98 8s 7d has been paid off during the year, and that with one exception none of the lodges' have created a debt or increased their present indebtedness. The exception referred to is that v of the Naseby Lodge, which shbws an increased indebtedness of £551255 d. I .will 'have some- ' thing more to say in respect of this lodge presently: ' / ! I think the figures which -I have given you ' are ■ sufficient to prove conclusively the vasfc > amount of good our Society is conferring on its members and is still further capable of in future. With these figures before me, and ' with the personal knowledge that I have • acquired during five-and-twenty years' mem- ■ bership of the great practical benefits derived • from Odd-Fellowship, it is to me a matter of surprise that these benefits are not more widely sought to be participated in than they are. When one reflects upon it, the 'advantage to a working man of assuring medical attendance and medicine for himself and family, > and a weekly sum sufficient to keep the wolf from the door should he be prostrated by sickness or accident, leaving other ' benefits out of consideration, cannot be over-estimated. He by such means acquires a moral independence not otherwise obtainable. I trust, therefore, to see our Order, and societies alike i constituted, extend their sphere of usefulness' until none will remain outside that are likely' to stand in need of their benefits.

During the year a new lodge has been added to the number in our district — viz., the Loyal Caversham Lodge, and although its members are not as yet very numerous, yet we have every reason to hope, from the energy and enthusiasm displayed by them, and the populous locality in which it is situated, to see the Lodge ere long a large and prosperous one. In respect to the Naseby Lodge, you have no doubt heard that matters have not turned out as satisfactorily as might have been anticipated from the report given by me at last district' meeting. It would appear that in October last the Lodge having been taken to task by the Registrar on account of certain financial transactions contrary to the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, .this circumstance^' with the prevailing discontent amongst ' the members, had the effect to bring affairs to a climax; and information was received bythe district officers that the Lodge had decided upon a dissolution. The district officers offered to mediate with the Registrar with the view of coming to some arrangement in' tha matter,' which offer the Lodge did not choose to avail itself of. On the sth December I waa deputed by my colleagues to proceed to Naseby, to attend a summoned meeting for the purpose of endeavouring to dissuade the members from the extreme course which they proposed to adopt. My efforts, however, in that direction were unavailing, and the impression upon my mind from what transpired during my conference with the members was that this proposed dissolution had been a thing long, long held in contemplation, and that dissatisfaction with the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act was not' the only ground for their action. The district ' officers are of opinion that the present members of the Naseby Lodge have, morally speaking, no right to seek to divide funds that have only been partly subscribed by themselves, and by rights belonging to an institution existing for the good of the community in which they reside as well as for ,their individual benefit. The district officers therefore have been and are strenuously opposed to the proposed dissolution, which no reason that has been advanced by tho Lodge will in their opinion justify. As the Lodge was registered under the Friendly Societies Act of 1807, the district officers were uncertain as to their legal position in respect of it, and accordingly wrote to the Registrar for information upon the point. The reply received from tho Registrar was that the cxvrcFiujd consent of the district officers would be insisted on before any dissolution of the Lodge could be sanctioned by him. A copy of this reply was sent to the Lodge, along with an intimation that the die*

<fcriot officer* would take no responsibility upon tthem'selves in connection with the matter, and •that if the members were still in favour of dissolution, application must be made and placed on the business paper for consideration of this meeting ; but up to the date of closing the business paper, nor indeed since, no application has been made. It would appear that one of the inducements held out to members to agree to the dissolution was the formation of a medical aid association, the Lodge surgeon agreeing to take them over as such pn payment «©? the same rates as they had hitherto been paying him as Lodge members. You will observe from the business paper that seme correspondence has taken place with the officers of the Hokitika district on tfche subject of the formation of an A.M.C. and Iseard of directors for New Zealand ; it will be submitted for an expression of opinion from this meeting. I find from a report recently to hand that the officers of the Hokitika district have adopted the same course, and their action has been endorsed by the district meeting. As the opinions of myself and ijolleagues are fully expressed in the correspondence, it is needless for me to offer any further remarks mow with regard to this question. Worthy delegates, in retiring from the position of Prov. G.M. <of this district— a position, 1 may remark, itfeat is the highest that can be attained in iconnection with Odd-Fellowship n New Zealand at present— permit me to offer any best thanks to my colleagues in office for their kindness and courtesy, and for the valuable assistance and advice they have at all times afforded me in carrying on the business of the district, and trust that our successors may work together as amicably duning their term of office as we have done in ours.

Bro. Sherwin said that before the report was adopted ho would like to know whether the district officers were awar* of the fact that the Naseby Lodge had not held a meeting for the past two or three months. The Secretary <ißro. Black) said that some «hort time ago he received a communication from that Lodge stating that a meeting was to be held for the purpose of considering the advisability of applying to the district meeting to bave the Lodge dissolved. No official commu nicatkm that the meeting had taken place had as yet been received from Naseby. Sro. Sligo said the matter would have to come before the District Committee first, and they would pass a resolution recommending the district officers to grant the request. H moved that the words " distriot committee " be substituted for " district officers," wherr mentioned in the Grand Master's address wit. reference to the Naseby Lodge.— The motion was seconded and carried.

Bro. Gbddes also spoke on th« matter. Ho aaid he had represented the Naseby Lodge since its opening — 14 or 15 years ago. For some time, however, they had kept him in entire ignorance of their affairs, so that he could say nothing about their wishes or the course they intended to pursue. He did > not feel flattered at the treatment he had received. The report and balance-sheet were taken &a read, and adopted.

PURPLE LECTURE.

It was decided to hold the next Purple Lecture and Past Officers' degree meeting in the Loyal Dunedin Lodge on the first Wednesday yinv in July.

DISTRICT ARBITRATION COMMITTEE.

The members of the old Arbitration Committee were re-elected to that office. BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The correspondence from the Hokitika district re the formation of an A.M.C. and board of directors for New Zealand was then read.

Bro Slioo moved-—" That in the opinion of this district meeting the time has not yet arrived for holding A.M.C. meetings and establishing such a board of directors." The motion was carried.

The motion of the district officers that tho following addition should be made to District Rule 40 was then considered : — " On the opening of a new lodge the scale of initiation fees shall be reduced 25 per cent, on all ages up to 35 years, and one-half the initiation fees received on the oponing night shall be placed to the credit of the incidental fund. The above reduction to apply to the opening night only.' 1 —The motion was discussed at great length, and was ultimately declared lost. A resolution was moved on behalf of the Dunedin Lodge that Rule 44 should be altered so as to bring it into conformity with the general law No. 39, Some of the speakers pointed out that in their opinion it was not right that a man who had paid Mb subscription for five years should be debarred from partaking of the benefits of the funeral fund v he happened to run in arrears through misfortune. — It was decided that the matter should be referred to the first meeting of the Revision Committee to deal with.

The request of the Dunedin Lodge to be allowed to appropriate to the incidental fund the sum of £8 14s, being the balance of funeral claims on account of the late Bro. Mead, was granted. It was agreed on the motion of the Dunedin Lodge that P.P.G.M. Bro. Coverlid's name should be placed on the District Merit Board, and that he receive the certificate enabling him to take the P.P.G.M. Thirteen members were nominated by the various lodges for the position of P.G.M., but only two consented to contest the election— viz. , P.D.G.M. Bro. Deacon and P.D.G.M. Bro. Harrop. The latter gentleman was returned by 17 votes to 10. For the office of D.P.G.M. three contested the election. P.G. Bro. P. H. Sherwin was the successful candidate. Bro. Black was re-elected provincial corresponding secretary at a salary of £75 per annum. P.P.G.M. Bro. Robin was re-elected district treasurer. The auditorsbip fell to the lot of P.G. Bro. Stronach. It was decided, in regard to the motion of the Dalton Lodge, that the amount deposited by the proposed Matau Lodge be forfeited, and carried to the District Relief Fund.

The rates for the ensuing year were fixed at 3s 6d for funeral and 6d for incidental. x It was resolved to hold the next district meeting at the Loyal Dunedin Lodge, Dunedin, in September. Bro. Woodland suggested that the Order should again hold annual gatherings. — It was agreed to embody the proposal in the next annual report for consideration. A vote of thanks was recorded to the retiring officers, and a special vote to P'.P.G.M. Bro. A. Sligo for the services rendered by him to the district.

In the evening a banquet was held in Mr John Dunne's Crown Hotel. About 50 gentlemen were present, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. On Sunday the district officers and delegates drove out to the Port Molyneux beach, and then walked to within a short distance of the Nugget Point lighthouse. They returned to Balclutha at 6 o'clock in the evening, and the majority of the delegates came on to Dunedin by the 11 a.m. train yesterday.

Orders have been given in connection with the White Star line of ships at Home for a gigantic ship of some 7800 touu, 550 feet in length and 50 leet beam, which H to be uallfd The Majestic, and whiuh ia to eclipse in internal splendour sf.ll existing flJwps,