M.U.1.0.0.E.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 17

M.U.1.0.0.E.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

Fhe annual meeting of the District Committee of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows was held in the Stuart street Hall on March 27. Prov. G.M. Bto. J. G. Briggs presided, and the vice-chair was occupied by Prov. D.G.M. Bro. A. Cable. There were also present Prov. C.S. Bro. Hopcraft, Pro. Treas. Bro. Robin, P P.G M. Bro. Allan, and about 50 delegates.

GRAND MASTER'S ADDHESS

The Provincial Grand Master, in his address, expressed hie pleasure at the large assemblage of delegates at their iiist meeting in the new century, and also at its being held in the hall of the parent lodge (Loyal Hand and Heart), which was opened on December 5, 184-8. The chief incident of general note which had happened since their last meeting was the death of Queen Victoria, and he would ask the indulgence of delegates while he gave a brief outline of their Unity's progress from the Queen's accession in 1837 to the date of her death, January 22, 1901. After dealing generally with the history of the order in the United Kingdom, the Grand Master said that coining to their ova district, it was most pleasing to note their numbers were sfeadily on the increase, which helped to promote the general good of the community. He concluded as follows : — With reference to my visits to the lodges in the district, the kind and cordial manner I was welcomed was beyond all measure. Notably by the following lodges, where they never had a district officer's visit since their opening : Loyal Cromwell, Alexandra, Lake Wakatipu, Mount Windon, and Tapanui. J need not comment on the business before you, as I feel sure every item will receive your careful consideration. Since our last mreting we have to deplore the loss of two of our oldest members, who were initiated in Port Philip District (Victo>ia in 1859— viz., P.P.G.M. Bro. W. H. Coverlid, who was the first N.G. of the Loyal Tu.ipekn Pioneer Lodge (1865). He represented them at our district meetings very often. He was Prov. G.M. from 1881 to 1882. His death occurred at Melbourne on October 8 last, and I regret to say his wodow is totally blind. On the -2nd of this month P.G. Bro. W. Bremmer passed away at the age of 76. He was the last of the founders (in the order) of the Albion Lodge, opened m 1864. He was for several years their treasurer, and took great interest in its welfare. No doubt many of you remember him at our meetings. I have to thank my colleaguei — one and all — for their kindness, courtesy, and able assistance they have given me during "niy term cf office. I told you I would, to the best of my ability, be a worker. I have done my best to carry out my promise. lv conclusion, worthy deputy and brothers, I trust that the ■watchword, not only of the officers and members of this district, but throughout the Unity, •will ever be in the future,_as in the past, onward in the inarch dtf progress. — (Applause.)

DTSTKICT OFFICERS' BEPOBT.

The District Officers' report submitted the following clauses : —

From the returns of lodges the following particulars have 'been compiled : — Number of members Ist January, 1900, 2902 ; number admitted during year (by anitiatkm and reinstatement 566, byclearaace 19), 365; — total, 3287; less left (by arrears 116, by clearance 19, by death 23% 158 ; totaL -remaining,. 3129,. The increase for the year is- 227, compared with 239 for 1899. The total increase for the last five years is 917, compared with 359 for 1891-1895. Our district has worthily assisted in the fulfilment of G.M. Paishton's hope that at the end of the century the order would number 1,000,000, which we trust has been realised.

Financial Statement. — Receipts . To value of lodge funds, 31st December, 1893, £82,046 14s 7d; entrance fees, sick and funeral funds, £223 5s 6d; contributions, sick and funeral funds, £4441 18s 10* d; funeral claims from district, £ 600 ; interest and rents, sick and funeral funds, £3482 5s 8d ; sundry receipts, sick and funeral funds, £ 128 7s 3d , contributions and levies, management funds, £4438 19s 7}d ; interest and xenta, £228 Is 8d ; sundry receipts, management iunda, £695 5s 8d; total, £14,238 4s 3d;— grand total, £96,284 18s lOd. Expenditure: By sick benefits, £3727 Is 4d , funeral claims, £570 ; district funeral levies, £657 4s lid; sundry payments, sick and funeral funds, £339 3s 4d ; medical attendance and medicine, £3190 5s 7d; salaries and allowances, £650 6s 9d; sundry payments, management -funds, £1338 15s 7d ; decrease in value of other funds, £144 15s Id ; total, £10,617 12s 7d ; total value of lodge funds 30th December, 1900, £85,667 6s 3d;— grand total, £96,284 18s lOd. Adding the available ftmds of the central "body to the above we get a grand total of £86,699 13s Id. being an increase of £3742 3s 4d, as compared with the corresponding date last year. The total increase for the period 1891-1895 wa3 £15,326 4s 9d, and that for 1896=1900, £17,770 10s lid. A further refund of £20 has been received from the Friendly Societies' Gardens Committee, in addition to £90 received in 1895. .'The number of deaths for the year was 23 members and 12 members' wives, as against 24 members and 11 members' wives for 1899. The eickness ext>erienced for the year was 5301 weeks four days, being an average per member of one week, five days, six' hours, as against a total of 4829 weeks five days, with an average of one week five days four hours for the previous year. The amount paid for sick pay was £3727 Is Id. an average of £1 6s 4d per member, as against £3421 10s 9d, and an average of £1 6s 5d per member for 1899. The amount in the various lodges ranged from 4s 6d m the Pride of Kaitangata Lodge to {'3 10s 6d in the Waitahuna Lodge. The average rate of interest realised on the investment of the sick and rfuneral capital of lodges, taking the district as a -whole, -was £4, 15s per cent as compared ■with £4 14s 8d per cent, for 1899. The average i-ates in the various lodges ranged from £1 15s 2d in the Milton Lodge to £7 14s lOd m the Laks Wakatipu Lodge.

At the last meeting of the executive, held in January, the district afficers placed on record their sincere regret at the loss our nation has sustained by the death of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen. Victoria, and their heartfelt sympathy with the Royal family. No words can possibly convey the grief with which we received the sad intelligence. The loss we all feel to be a personal one, inasmuch as by her diaracte'r and example she has endeared herself to her people. ' " Like the roots and fibres •f an ancient oak she has struck through our -customs, our thoughts, our speech, our hearts." -A cony of the resolution was forwarded to his Excellency the Governor, Lord E«nfurly, who ~sn acknowledging 'receipt advised it wo«ld give lim much pleasure to transmit to the oecreta-ry of Stat6 for the Colonies.

The quinquennial valuation of lodges for the -period ended 1899 has been sent to all the lodges, and the district report will be submitted -to the delegates at the annual meeting. Your executive recommend that a committee, consisting oi P.P.G.M.'s A. Shgo, F. Calvert, J. H. Chapman, W. Allan, Per. Sec. J. Brown, be associated with the district officers to consider and report.

The G.M. and Board of Directors, at a meeting held on the 23rd Aupust, 1000, passed the following resolution —"That with reference is the application iiqm the various districts

in New Zealard to hold their own A.M.C, the dnectors, having regaid to the fact that the fame privilege is enjoyed by the various districts m Austrahi, accede io such request.' The Committee of Management of the Auckland distnct i°sued a circular requesting the views of this district as to the advisability or otherwise of holding a conference re A.M.C. Your exeotitive advised them that nothing had transpired to alter the opmion expressed by our delegates at the last annual meeting of District Committe:.

With a view of making the monthly magazine of the ordsr more popular, and also with a view of giving an opportunity of recognising the efforts of members belonging to lodges in the colonial districts resolved that a miniature portrait and brief biography of some prominent colonial Oddfellow be inserted m the magazine for the months of January, Apnl, July, and October of each year, the first to be inserted in July, 1901. Xonimations are to be considered by the directors, who shall determine which portrait shall appear arid the order of their appearance. The delegates will be asked to make their selection for this district at the annual meeting.

.Since the last district meeting the Prov. G.M. £as visited the following country lodges : Royal Prince Alfred, Dalton, Milton, Alexandra, Naseby, United Brothers, Cromwell, Roxburgh, Waitahuna, Dtmbaek, Band of Friendship, Ngapara, and Oamaru. In each and every ease he has been most cordially welcomed. In several of the lodges he has conferred purple and past officeis' degrees on members entitled to same. Before the annual meeting the Piov. Q.M. has raade arrangements to visit Tuapeka, Pioneer, Waipori, Blue Spur, Tapanui, and Lake Wakatipu Lodges.

The Provincial Grand Master moved the reception of the report. This was seconded by P.D.G.M. Bro. Cable and agiecd to after a short discussion.

On the motion of Bro. Hamcl, it was resolvec' — " That tl is meeting cordially endorse tho reply tpnt by the district executive to the Auckland district in rcfeicnce to the formation ot an A.M.C. for New Zealand.

FIX VXCI -iL

Bro. Grater moved the adoDtion of the balance sheet and auditors' report. In doing so he mentioned that delegates wovld notice tl.at the funeral fund balance had slightly decreased during the year, but was eti'i over £100 in credit, and the incidental fund balance had increased by £20.— 8r0. Sligo thought that it should be a direction to the district officers to look about for a more remunerative inv>23trnpn± for their surplus funds than the bank afforded.— Bro. Chapman suggested that the unity should consider a scheme such as that projected by the Freemasons for tho establishment of an orphanage for the children of Oddfellows in poor circumstances. —The report was adopted. It was decided to hold the next half-year.y purple lecture and past officers' degree meeting in the District Chambers, the date and time to be fixed by tho executive.

GREETINGS.

W. Woodland, D.S., United Otago District, A.0.F., wrote conveying fraternal greetings, and trusting that the deliberations of the meeting would -tend to promote in a still greater degree the prosperity of the district and further advance the cause they had mutually at heart.— A telegram, was received from the Grand Master of the Invercargill district com veying fraternal e^eetings. — On the motion of Bro. Sligo, the messages were received. *pd tho secretary wa€ instructed to acknowledge the same.

VALUATION OF OTAGO DISTRICT.

Some discussion arose as to whether the repoi t of the quinquennial valuation should be read, Bro. Robin contending that it was a damaging report, and should not be published until the district officers had had the opportunity of framing a reply.— Bio. Wilson moved— "That the report be referred to a. committee." and this was met by an amendment by Bio. Chapman that the repoit be read.— The amendment was carried by 28 votes to 26, and the report rrad : — This is the fifth quinquennial valuation of the society. The attached tables, A, B, C, and D, containing a summaiy of the lesults of each valuation, are interesting as showing its experience during a quarter of a century. Comparison between the sickness m the qumquenium preceding the present valuation and that in the quinquennium preceding the first valuation shows a very large increase, both in amount and value. The average total sickness per member per annum was 1.83 weeks, as compared with 0.81 weeks, an increase of 125 per cent. The average after-twelve-months' sickness per member per annum was 0.85 wesks, as compared with 0.21 -weeks, an mcreasc«of 305 per cent.

The average sick pay par member per annum was 26s 4d. as compared with 13s 10d, an increase of 90 per cent. The average total sickness per death of member was 183 weeks, as compared with 111 weeks, an increase of 65 per cent. The death rate of members, vJnch during "the 20 years, 1575-94, was « per 1000 per annum, increased to 10 per 1000 per annum during 1895-99, the rats according to the mortality -table adopted being 11 p«r 1000 per annum. That the society's experience in respect o£ sickness is not exceptional is ascertained by reference to the tabulated sickness of all societies in the colony for the years 1894-98, as compared with that for tho years 1881-85. Comparison between the average total sickness per member per annum and between the aveiage expenditure per member per annum on account of sick pay for these respective periods shows an increase of 49 per cent, m the duration, and of 33 per cent, in the cost. The lesson taught by these statistics is not for the actuary only. It should be carefully studied by every member who is personally interested in the solvency of his lodge. Friendly soc.ety finance should be based on the best data available, and amended from time to time as new features piesent themselves. The actuaries of the order in England, recognising that the statistics of 1866-70 ar? out of date, have advised and undertaken the tabulation of recent experience, with a view to the calculation of new tables of values and lates of contubution. ' The question for urgent solution is • What is the best course for lodges which have a serious deficiency 9 Previous valuation reports contained warnings and advice to lodges so situated, and no aigument is requned to prove that the longer financial reform is postponed the more drastic must be the remedy. The Waitahuna Lodge, by" reduction of the aftei-slx-months' sickness" benefit, largely reduced its annual expenditure, and as a consequence its contingent liability. Although 5s a week is insufficient as a, maintenance during chrome sickness, effective action was necessary in order to prevent the loss of everything to the ultimate survivors.

Previously the valuation of the society was based on the sickness and mortality of the order in England, that being the most suitable experience available. In 1896 attention wag drawn by the valuer to the inadequacy of the scale of contributions according to that standard. The general effect of the adoption of New Zealand experience is an additional liability on, kgeguot fii the sic&ieeg ben.eh.ta

paid by nil the lodges of the district excent one, but the increase is pax'tly compensated by a reduction in the liability on account of death clams and by an increase in the present value of the prospective assets. The result is that there is a greater deficiency m the fcale of contributions than befoie Notwithstanding the change, and the assumption of higher sickness lates, the actual total sickness for the quinquennium preceding the present valuation slightly exceeded the expectation, and there is e\eiy indication th.it the total duration of sickness per member is still an increasing quantity The character of the sickness during 189599 was somewhat favomable to the society fiom a financial point of view, the pioportioii of acute sickness being less, and the percentage of chronic sickness greater, thar the expectation. That average results cannot be expected when the membership i.- small is illustrated by the gieat contrast between the maximum and minimum experience recorded m table 111, the lowest average sickness per member per annum being 0.44 weeks and the highest 5.03 weeks, and the lowest average sick pay per member per annum being 8s lOd, and the highest 67s 6d. Out of 29 lodges 22 are found to have a deficiency, ranging from a nominal aanount up to 33 pea? cent, of the contingent liabilities. Although, with few exceptions, the average rate of interest per annum credited to the benefit fund during 1595-99 was lower than that credited during the previous quinquennium., m 14 lodges the rate was 5 per cent, and upwards, in seven lodges between 4 and 5 per cent., an<} in the six other lodges established prior to 1895 between 3 and 4 per cent. In the lodges whose experience is tabulated the number of members at the beginning of the flirinquennmm was 2124. Of these, yBO left by arrears, the members who were sick and not sick durinsf the quinquennium being 47 and 313 respectively. Of 1230 members admitted during the quinquennium 178 left by arrears, the num'ojis who were sick and not sick during the quinquennium being 19 and 153 respectively. The dist'ict funeral fund is maintained by an annual contribution pioportionate to the aggregate ages of members of each lodge. In the balance sheet each lodge is, therefore, debited with a corresponding share of the total liability on account of death claims. The values cf the prospective assets and liabilities have been calculated on the general mortality experience of the colo.iy, on the si -k-lip-s experience of • New Zealand friendly societies up to age 70, and on English sickness rates above that age; the late of interest assumed being 4 per cent.

Edmund Maso^, Registrar and Actuary. Wellington, December 17, 1900. Membership.

The report was referred to a committee oon-islmg of T.P.G.M.V A. Sligo, F. Calvert, J. H. Chapman, W. Allan, and Per. Sec.J. Brown, together with the district officers, for their consideration and report.

DISTRICT SICK FUND.

Bro. Hamel, representing the Hand and Heart Lodge, moved — " That it is desirable that a district fund be established to be called the "District sick fund." In doing so he spoke at lpngth, arguing that the^ cst*bli*hment oi this-fund would be an improved and more economical method of distributing f-ick benefits — N.G. Bro. Jones seconded the motion, which evoked a good deal of dipcussion. — Bro. Sligo moved the following amendment . " That in the opinion of this meeting it is very desirable that, m the best interests of all concerned, <;ur tyslrm of local self-government by lodgf^ should be fostered, prseoiiraged, and strcngth o ned in every possible way, rather than weakened and emasculated by the creation of a district sick fund or otherwise, and that in the opinion of the delegates here assembled tho moral, social, and financia l interests of the whole body are best served by tho present bv>'em." — Uro. Chapman seconded tho amendment, which was cairied by an o\erwlipln«ing majority.

MOTIONS.

The following resolutions werp pas=ed

"That district rule 29 be supplemented by the following paragraph : A sum not exceeding six guineas shall be allowed from the district management fund to heir) to defray the expense of entertaining. the visiting brethren at a district meeting.' "

"That the district offieei- bo instructed to ascertain if the Government is willing to grant the same concessions to members of friendly 'societies visiting Hamner Plains Springs as are granted to members visiting the Hot Springs at Rotorua." "That the name of P.P.G.M. Bro J G Briggs be placed on the merit board, and that he receive a certificate to enable him to take the degree of a P.P.G.M., and that he receive a P P.G.M.'s jewel."

GEXEBAL.

The levies for the year were fixed as follows: — Funeral levy, 2s; incidental levy, 9d.

It was decided that the ne\fr district meeting should be held in the district chamber?.

ELECTION OF OFFICKBS

The following district officers were elected . Prov. G M , P D G.M. Bro. Cable : D.P.G M., Bro. GarrovT; Prov-. C.B , Bro. .7. A. Hopcraft; Prov Treasurer, Tiro. J Robin; auditor, P.G. Bro. Grater; lodge book examiner, Per. Sec Bro Baiton; Arbitration Clomnuttee—Bsoa.C lomnuttee—Bsoa. Sligo, UsxsoSi Hamel, Chap-

man, Brundell, Allan, Grater, Gow, Deacon, Black, Munro, and Wilson. The newly-elected officers were duly m&tal'.eJ, and the meeting closed witTf a vote of thanks to the retiring officers.

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