ODDFELLOWSHIP. Wellington, February 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 8

ODDFELLOWSHIP. Wellington, February 11.

At the annual district meeting of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellow?, Bro. Avery, Provincial Grand Master, said the question of women's lodgeß appeared to bft a. difficult matter for the board of directors and A.M.G. to dispute of. First they declared that women were entitled to the privileges of the order, and after several lodges had been opened on these lines, a ruling was given that they were nob branches, and could not be granted dispensations, and that they stood in the same relation to the order as juvenile branches. If this wat to be the basis of women's lodges, in his opinion, as far as New Zealand was concerned, where women had 'the fr&nohige, they would nob care to retain the membership of the unity. Some of the lodges in the district were not in a satisfactory state, the attendance being disappointing, and the juvenile lodges were not aeTflourishiDg at they should ba. The number of members wai 1288. The balance sheet showed a oredit balance inn the sick fund of, £24,201, in the management fund of £129, and in the central fund of £103. Jl long discussion took place on the question of the establishment of a board of directors, and eventually the following wa» carried by 17 to 6 :— •• That this district is favourable to the formation of a triennial movable committee when eight districts have signified their intention of joining." Bco. O. W. Johnston, of Petone, was elected Provisional Grand Master.