M.U.L.0.0.F., OTAGO DISTRICT

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 52

M.U.L.0.0.F., OTAGO DISTRICT

HALF-YEARLY MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of the committee of the M.U.1.0.0.F., Otago District, was helJ in th« Rattray Street Oddfellows' Hall on the 27th ult. There was a large attendance of delegates, officers, ancl visitors, and the meeting was presided over by the Prov. G.M. Bro. W. E. C. "Reid, who was supported bj the following executive officers:— P.P.G.M. Bio. J. Broadfoot, D.P.G.M. Bro. R. S. Black, P.P.G.M.'s Bros. J. Hopcraft (provincial secretary), and J. Robin (provincial treasurer). The following is a list of the delegates : P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. F. Hamel, P.G. Bro. P. Thompson, N.G. Bro. J. M'lntosh, P.G. Bro. J. Thompson, P.G. Bro. C. Grater, E.S. Bro. E. W. Fea, V.G. Bro. W. J. Rosevear, P.G. Bro. T. G. Flynn (Hand ancl Heart), P.P.G.M. Bro. C. E. Brundell, P.G.s Bros. A. M'Dougall, J. J. Dunne, G. Crosbie, and L. Motor (Dunedin), P.P.G.M. Bro". J. Wilson, P.G. Bro. Souness, G.M. Bro. N. G Sherwood, V.G. Bro. Marshall (Caversham), N.G. Bro. GF. M. Kennedy, P.G. Bro. 0.. W. Smith, V.G. Bro. A. Coughlan, P.G. Bro. J. J. Jones (Albion), PTG. Bro. F. Millier, P.S. Bro. D. S. Munro, N.G. Bro. W. Roberts (Valley), P.G.s Bim C. J. Wood and D. Fleming (Dalton), P.P.G.M. Bro. A. Caple, P.G. Bro. J. H. Crawford, P.G. Bro. R. J. Foreman (Prince of Wales), N.G. Bro. W. H. Young, P.S. Bro. W. Weir, P.G. Bro. J. Stevens (Mosgiel), P.G. Bro. G. Hilliker (Oamaru), E.S. Bro. T. Pilling and G.M. Bro. Christie (Tuapeka), P.G. Bro. W Paginini, Per. Sec. Bro. J. Brown (Blue Spur), P.G. Bro. J. Murphy, E.S. Bro. H. Turner (Naseby), P.G. Bros. D. Murray and W. B. Eskdale (Tapanui), P.S. Bro. D. M'Donald, P.G. Bro. R. Dreaver v Palmerston). P.P.G.M. Bro. A. Slisro and P.G. Bro. W. T. Talboys (Cromwell). P.P.G.M Bro. J. Briggs (Mount 1 Wendon). P.G. Bro. J. L. Smith, N.G. Bro. E D. Laverv (Pride of Kaitanorata). P.S. Bro. W. M'Gill (Waikaka), V.G. Bio. H. Rawson. P.S. Bro. J. Brownlie. P.G. Bro. J. Paul (Milton). G.M. Bro. R. B. Neil, P.S. Bro. J. Grant (Outram). P.G Bro. Bayne, of Southland, was welcomed to the meeting. 'The Grand Master, in accordance -with recent custom at half-veavly meetings, did not deliver a presidential address. He moved the reception of the district officer's report as follows : —

Brethren, — In accordance with custom your officers present a report in regard to tiheir transactions and also as to the affairs of the district, having reference to its general welfare. From the lodgo returns as a.t June 30 last tho following particulars have been compiled • —

Numerical Statement. — Number of members January 1, 1905, 3761; nunibei admitted, during the half year — by initiation and reinstatement, 150; by clearance 7 (157); — total, 3921; less left— by arrears. 84, by clearance 9, by death. 12, by resignation 1 (106);— total lemaoning, 3815. Increase for the half year, 51.

Financial Statement. — Receipts: To value of lodge funds, January 1, 1905, £103 763 8a sd; entrance fees, sick and funeral funds, £89 8s 6d; contributions &ick and funeral funds, £2903 13s sd'; funeral claims from district, £250; interest and rents, sick ancl funeral funds, £2185 10© Id; sundry receipts., sick and funeral funds, £13 6s 2di; contributions and levies, management fund, £2851 113 6id: interest and rents, management fund, £lli Oa 9d; sundiy receipts, management fund, £411 0s lid lls 4~d);— total, £112,578 19s 9Jd.

Expenditure: By sick benefits, £2305 10s 6d; by funeral claims, £280; by district funeral levies, £271 19s 6d; sundry payments, sick and funeral funds, £109 16s Id; medical attendance and meidicine, £1937 Is 4d; salaries and allowances, £538 18s sd; sundry| payments, management funds, £582 13s 3d; decrease in value of other funds, £96 18s lid (£6122 ISs); — value of lodge fund's June 30 1905 £106.456 Is 9Jd. Total, £112,578 19s 9§d. Adding the" available funds of tha central body we get a grand total of £107,659 8s BJd as the total valuo of the district aa at Juno 30 last. During the term the deaths of 12 members and 4 members' wives were recorded, against 15 members and 3 members.' wives for the corresponding period last yeasr. It is a noticea.ble fact that the sick benefits disbursed for the' period exceed that of the corresponding period of last year by £221. 10s.

Quinquennial Valuation.

The returns for the year 1904 being the final year of the quinquennial ppriod, were forwarded to the Registrar of Friendly Societies on the lOthi April last. The deputy registrar advised U3 •under date 14th April : " That it would be futile to expect a report from the actuary on the valuation of our society and branches as a-i. 31st Decomber, 1904, until some time after the current year owing . to the work of the actuary being considerably in arrear." As we considered the valuation of the district of great importance the registrar was again written to, to reconsider the matter, a3 failing the ability of the office to undertake the work in a reasonable time representations woitld ba made to the Minister in charge ol the department.

Wo wore them advised on the 25th April—' " That the forms for the necessary iists of members would be sent by the actuary a.t( an eaily date, and trusting that other valuation work that has engaged attention prior to the receipt of our application would ba sufficiently advanced to enable our society ta be dealt with at least as early as the threa previous quinquennial reports of this di&tricfi had' been forthcoming." Having nothing tangible to rely on, wa again wrote on the 6th. May that as an executive v.c were prepared to memorialise tha Minister in charge of the department to gran* assistance to get the valuation completed 1 . No reply being received the registrar wag again written to, on 3rd June when he advised—" That the forms connected therewith! will be ready for issue at an early date. As soon as they come to hand a supply will ba s&nt to you for distribution to the branches so that lodge secretaries may fill in the required particulars." _ Nothing further being received by 30th June the registrar was advised that we had askeS Bros Sidey and Arnold, M.H.K.'s, to look into th« matter. On his being interviewed by them they were informed tha^ some returns had yet to be supplied to him before the -work of preparing the report could be entered upon. The forms referred to were only received here on the 11th July, and bear the printer's imprint, June, 1905, and it was rather misleading that the M.H.R.'s were not informed by the regisliar. thai he had .sent these forms

■between the time they had been written to and their interview with him. The financial returns asked for are, ia the opinion of your executive and several of our secretaries, sxiperfluous, as the information has already been supplied in the annual returns, and if a-ny deductions were required for actuarial purposes the information was in the registrar's office. After many inquiries as to when we could expect the result of valuation, it was three months after the annual returns were Bent that the new forms came to hand. It therefore appears to us that this delay is an effectual block to our receiving a valuation this year, and the two M.H.R.'s previously mentioned have been asked to make inquiry and to see if the duplicating information is necessary before valuation can be done. Our last valuation conducted by the Government was received within 12 months without Bupplying the information, on this new form, I the want of whioh the registrar has now found greatly delays the valuation work. We complained of the extra work required to be done by the secretaries in supplying ] end checking information on the new form, and to bear out our contention that it is needless the following paragraph taken, from a report by Messrs George Leslie (present registrar) and the late P. Black, public valuers under " Th© P. S. Act, 1882," on the valuation of thi6 district in 1891, is interesting: — " W,e feel that it would be unjust for us to close this report^witbout giving _a word of praise to the secretaries of the various lodges for the manner in which they from time to time furnish returns to the district. These returns are of such a nature as to involve a great amount of care and labour of which' a majority of the members have little or no conception and for which the secretaries are but poorly paid as a. rule. So complete' are these returns that -with the .standing records kept i by the district a valuation of the society, or of any lodge, carf be made as at the end of any year without calling for any extra information. The mention of this fact should induce the general body of members to recognise how much, the society's success and proper management is due to honest, intelligent, and painstaking lodge secretaries." Plymouth A.M.C. A special supplement .to the Western Daily J Mercury, Plymouth, 'dated Saturday, 17th June, 1905, reports of jthat great gathering of Oddfellows from all parts of Great Britain known to members of the order as the Annual Moveable Conference. "The Grand Master's address has been' published in pamphlet form, and comprises 44 pages of interesting and instructive reading. The annual report expressed that the increase in membership during the year was smaller than has been the ca.se' for many years past, the' total increase being only 3978; however, it may be considered satisfactory that an increase has taken place. Th« membership of the various kinds of the order ( now reaches the large number of 1,021,474, and the directors could point with pride ,to the fact that ,the Manchester Unity remained the largest, richest, and soundest friendly society in the world. Since' the Manchester A.H.C. 15 male and 4 female lodges had /been opened in the United Kingdom, and 50 lodges in the colonies and "United States, making a total of 69 lodges opened during the year. The returns for the year 1904 are not completed, but the financial position, of tha society at the clos"e of ,1903 was J612,098,473. ; In ifeat year we saved upwards of half a- mil- ( lion of money. The Grand • Master, referring to this gratifying result, said: 'It is well, in all our work, that we should reiterate the fact * that this sum has not accumulated from the donations of the wealthy oLtheiand, we have j received the kindly' notice and sympathetic i approbation of our -statesmen, but their'financial help we have neyer sought.' " A resolu- • tion having been passed by. the Grand Master J "and Board of Directors granting the districts j in New Zealand permission to form themselves into a separate branch of the order, to be called the New Zealand branch, P.G.M. Bro. Dempsey moved the adoption of the clause, ■wjiich was seconded by our worthy and respected Bro. P. G. Alexander, of the Dunedm Lodge. The Otago district has so far not se<m any necessity for "the formation of a separate branch, but P.G. Bro. Alexander, being calk-d upon by the Grand Master to second the proposition, felt ha could not do otherwise, being the only representative of New Zealand present at the A.M.C. Vote fob Educational Purposes. In reference to th^. question remitted to your executive to draw up a resolution for submission .to Ib 3 meeting re having pxoTisiou mad© whereby moneys may be levied by special contribution or that moneys niay be voted auifc of the surplus funds for educational purposes, your executive would refer delegates to rule 2, objects of the society. Tho 'objects of the society feha.ll be: To provide by entrance fees, contributions of the JBsni-bers. levies, fines, doiia-tions, and by interest on. capital; -for insuring a stun, of monsy to be paid on tho death of a member or nuembers' wife; for the relief or maintenance of th© nieanibors during sickness or other infirmity, whether bodily or mental, or m old «ge; for providing medicine 'and medical attendance to the members, their wives and, families," to such extent, and under such" regulations as may be made by branches for that purpose; for providing assistance to the widows and duldxim of cteceasacl taenibers; for providing members with assistance when travelling in search of employment ; for 'assisting members in distressed circumstances, and branches unable to meet their engagements. Prom the above delegates will see that any proposition in this ir.attar would be contrary to the rides. Hakrop Scholaeship. The next competition will be held in December, 1906. The regulations iHider which it is conducted are printed in the reports of district committee meetings. Your executive would life to se>o a greater interest evinced by the members in this district by an increase in the number of contestants next year. Prom the report received, last year's winner, C. M. Smith, bids fair to distinguish himse/M during 4ha currency of his scholarship and Lis future career will ba watched with interest. Puhple Lecture. It hare been suggested to your executive the advisability of holding a meeting to corufer the purple O'ejture degree. If time permits at the conclusion of the meeting tho degree will lie conferred on those who present the neica^saary Certificate. Conclusion 1 . We cannot) conclude our report withoiiit •t bi erring to the resignation of Bro> William "Wilson as "Per. Sec. of Loyal Alexandra Lodo-rt, Port MoljTieux. Bro. Wilson has been in office 32 yeans 26 of which he held the •position of secretary, and it is to be regretted •that owing to failing eyesight he • now re3inquisihes that position. It is the assistance given by brethren of his isrtamp tEat has made our society strong, and we hope that though out of office the ledge- will still have the feonefit of his mature advice for many years. P.P.G M. Bro. A. Sligo complimented the district on the steady increase m tb,e membership, and also in regard to the very satisfactory financial position. While they were as an organisation considered fco bo, and were, very wealthy, still there Was need for careful handling of the funds. While there had been a large increase in

the funds, there was a corresponding increase in their responsibilities, and _it Lbboved them to pursue a conservative course in the husbanding of their resources. In regard to the report, he regretted that the references on the quinquennial valuation appeared to convey a reflection on the registrar of friendly societies. The official referred to was well known in Dunedin — viz.. Bio. George Leslie, — and they all knew there was no n.ore hard-working brother in regard to fiiendly societies in the colony. He (Bro. Sligo) believed it was the case that the registrar had been somewhat handicapped in regard to the work of valuations of the societies, and it seemed ho had not the clerical assistance he should have, and he thought pressure should be brought to bear on tho Government to give the regis(rar more asf»i stance in the office. In regard to complaints as to the special forms now required to be filled up, he ventured to say that if such forms had previously been' in use in 1901 they would not in that year have had an error of £2000 in connection with the Cromwell Lodge — an error which had had the effect of putting the district valuation on the wrong sidft to rhat amount He hoped that secretaries would endeavour, as far as possible, to assist the registrar by supplying him with the fullest possible information^ Having expressed his opinion on that matter, he supported the adoption of the report. Their affairs were in good bands, and he had no doubt the little trouble with the -registrar would be overcoiae. P.G. Bro. J. Crawford (Prince of Wales Lodge) disagreed with the special defence of the registrar by P.M. Bpo. Sligo, and he contended 'that the registrar had no right to ask secretaries of lodges that work should be ido'tte twice. D.P.G.M. "Bro. R. S. Black thought that as an organisation they should not_ allow any departmental officer to sta-nd in the way of their getting their valuation return when they wanted it. As to the £2000 item referred to by Bro. Sligo, he thoueht that was a reason why it was imperative that they should get their returns so that they might know how they stood. There was no exouse for a delay of over 12 months in getting their valuation' returns.— (Applause.^ P.O.S. Bro. J. A. Hopcraft said his experience since the new forms were sent out was that the secretaries had refused to give the information asked for in the returns, and some of the secretaries had difficulty in understanding what information .was required. P.G.M. Bro. Reid said the district had endeavoured as far as possible to supply the information asked for. A number of the brethren having snoken in support of the references in the report to the matter, the discussion on that phase of the report dropped. Bro. Hamel moved — "That if; be an instruction to the District Executive to oonfor with the Board of Directors, with the object of receiving a direction regarding the best means of dealing with the scholarship question." Bro. Munro seconded, and considerable disoussion followed, after which the motion was withdrawn by the mover, who substituted the following: — "That a committee consisting of P.P.G.M.'s Bros. Wil&on. Broadfoot, Cable, P.G.D. Bro. Munro, and the mover be appointed to consider the scholarship question and report to a further meeting." — Thio was carried. Bro. Brundell moved — "That this meeting of delegates has every confidence in and heartily supports district officers in their attitude in regard to the quinquennial valuation." "Pro. Cable seconded. The opinion was expressed by a number of delegates (including the chairman) t'rat the motion was unnecessary if they acceoted the district officers' report, and the motion was withdrawn. 'A he report was then adopted. The following brethren were nominated for election at the next annual meetinz: — Prov. G.M., Bro. R. S. Black : permanent secretary. Bro. Weir; D.P.G.M.s, Bros. M'Dougall, Munro. A. J. and C. W. Smith, Weir, Grater, Lilburne, Thompson, Crawford, and Renfrew; prov. treasurer, Btw. J. Robin ; auditor, Bro. Jas. Brown ; lodge book examiner, Bro. T. Burton ; secretary, Bro. J. A. Hopcraft. The date for the next Purple lecture and past officers' degree meeting wwats t left in the hands of the district officers, 'and the place of meeting wae fixed at tihe District Chambers. Bro. Sligo submitted a report from tre Friendly Societies' Ground Committee, which showed an amount of £80 for distribution amongst the societies interested in the Sawyers' Bay Ressrve, which had been taken by the Church Board. — The report was adopted and a vote of thanks was passed to Bro. Sligo for his services on the committee. After considerable discussion, the following resolution, moved by Bro. Munro, a.n"d seconded by Bro. F. Milter, was agreed to : "From Valley Lodge — That all the steps necessary be taken to amend district rule No. 52, to read: "Lodges ehall not be responsible for moneys paid on account of a member, unless it be paid on a regular lodge night and in the lodae room, and during the time, the lodge is open for the transaction of business, or whidh the permanent secretary consents to receive at hia place of business or private abode ; nor shall they be compelled to receive an unequal sum or sums which are not exact multiples of the weekly contribution. In the event of ary dispute, no payment shall be recognised Ly a lodge unless an official receipt be rio duced by the member. They may nass a rule compelling members either to pay up all arrears of contributions and fines one or more times durina: the year, or b& fin oil. Lodges shall insert in their rules the rates of contributions and benefits." Tho motion was carried on the voices, a considerable number of " noes " being heard. On the motion of Bi-o. Crawford, seconded by Bro. Foreman, it was resolved — "That a committee be set up to procure and consider data from which a scheme may bo propounded for the purpose of increasing the funeral allowance to members, the committee to consist of district officers, P.P.G.M.'s Bros. Cable Hamel, Wilson, P.G. Bro. Grater, Perm. Secretary Bro. Brown, Bro. Munro, and the mover." It was resolved, on the motion of Bro. Robin — "That the isum of £10 be donated by the district towards the Dunedin Hospital Extension Fund. The levies for the half year were fixed as follows: — Funeral levy, Is 6d, and H^idental levy, 6d. The date for holding the next annual meeting was loft in tho hands of r hc JisiriCt officers. Bro. P. M. Geddes, who has been a past master of the order for 42 years. ?hd P.G. Bro. Shepherd (of Sydney) were

accorded a round of applause for their presence at the meeting-, and the business was concluded by tho reading of tJ.e minutes.

At the conclusion of the meeting a Purple Lecture was given for the purpose of " raising" a country brother.

THE BANQUET,

The district officers and country delegates were entertained at a complimentary banquet in the evening by the Loyal Albion Lodge, when about 200 sat down to dinner in the lower room of tho Raltray Street Hall. The menu provided for the occasion was liberal and varied, and a first-class programme of speech and recitation and song was arranged and carried out. The speeches during the evening were brief, and the musical items were received witl* special favour. The toasts proposed and responded to were " The King and Manchester Unity," proposed by the chairman (Bro. W. E. C. Raid) ; " Otago District," Bro. D. S. Munro ; "Country Delegates," Bro. P. Miller; "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," Bro. A. Cable ; " City and Suburban Councils." Bro. Jas. Brown; "Kindred Societies," Bro. A. M'Dougall; "The Ladies," "The Press," and " The Albion Lodge." Songs were rendered by Messrs J. Jago, 'I. Flynn, J. M. Alexander, J. A. Hopcraft, J. Hislop, J. JJrown, and P. Miller, and recitations were given by Bros. F. Calvert and J. G. Steven, and quartet items were rendered by Messrs Alexander, Hoperaft, Jago, and Ssarle. In addition to the items above mentioned, a pianoforte duet by Messrs D. Cooke and C. Campbell, and a ventriloquial sketch by Mr A. Allen were included in the evening's entertainment ; a -very pleasant social gathering, which commenced at 7 p.m., being brought to a conclusion shortly before midnight in the customary manner.