O D D FELLOWS HIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 38

O D D FELLOWS HIP.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND,

The thirty-fifth meeting and the fourteenth biennial (meeting of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, 1.0.0.3?., was held at Palmerston North on March 21. There were 25 representatives of districts present, in addition to six executive officers—-Bros. R Armiger, G.M. (Auckland), R. G. Gray, D.G.M. (Auckland), A. H. Valen- , tine, S.W. (Dunedin), Wm. Retd, G.S. (Dunedin), J. S. Alexander, G.T. (Dunedin), Thos. Crawley, I.P.G.M. (Invercargill). GRAND SECRETARY S REPORT. I The report of the Grand Secretary (Bro. W. Reid) contained the following clauses: “ Another two years have passed since we met in Christchurch, a period ■tn at has been stamped by that activity and progressiveness which has become one or the characteristics of Oddfellowship of the Independent Order. It has been a period of strenuous effort, and those in power may .claim to have left indelible graces on the history of the order. There were a.t last annual report 62 lodges; new lodges opened, 7; —total on the roll, 69 looges. AH our lodges are in fairly good case, .although some have been opened in districts where the population is so sparse that it requires a good deal of enthusiasm on the part of tine faithful few to keep them going. None has been dropped from. the roll, and with the system of organising now in vogue an impetus has been given to some which has started (them with a fresh lease of life. It is stilldebatable whether it is wise to establish lodges in districts with such limited re-cruiting-ground that they can only become a drag on the wheels of the institution. Membership at last report, 6052; initiated during the year, 871: admitted by. card, 59; reinstated, 12; —total, 6994; dropped through N.P.D., 433; withdrawn by card, 111; deceased, 25; expelled, 3; —total, 572; total, 5422. There were 4289 weeks of sickness experienced, at a total cost of £3867 4s 4d. There were some lodges which had a. very high rate of sickness — Washington Lodge, with 310 weeks 4 days, £264 Is 8d; Unity Lodge, 511 weeks, £2lB 6s lOd; Pioneer of Southland, 305 weeks, £206 15s. The sickness was very consider-

ably larger than that experienced for 1909. but is probably not more than the natural increase which must result, from an institu- / tion growing at the rate we are. The receipts from lodges were: —Contributions, £15,120 19s 9d; entrance fees, £306 ss; interest and rent, £Bl9 14s 3d; other sources. £7l 14s 7d. The main items for expenditure were; —Medical attendance and medicine, £4667' 14i3 10d; funeral claims, £790; working expenses, £2069 •Vs 3d; relief, £7O 19s, lOd. All funds show a satisfactory increase during the year. The funeral fund has increased by £2171 16s 9d. The sick fund by £4290 _7s 3d; this fund now standing at the splendid total of £36,015 17s 10d; The other benefit funds show substantial increases. The payment of old members’ dues' fund has sufficients standing at credit to cany it on -until the next valuation, when steps should be taken to place it on a lees transitory basis. The extended funeral benefit scheme has not been much taken advantage of, there being only -69 members on the roll. Offering as it does one of the cheapest forms of life insurance, it seems a pity that members do not take more advantage of it. The Rebekah branch has made very little progress during the year. There were 11 lodges at last report, and one new lodge has been opened, making a total of 12 lodges on the roll. The almost entire absence of the male members from the management of the lodges militates much against their success, and until more interest -is shown by fie male subordinates we cannot expect much improvement. The membershix) at last report was 681; initiated during the year, 142; transferred! by card, 8; rein-

stated, I; total, 833. Dropped N.P.D., 133; .death (bon.), 3 —136; total 119 w on. roll, 697. The sickness experience of the lodges was fairly large, the total sickness amounting to £145 16s. There were no claims on the funeral fund. As social clubs the female lodges are doing very good work, and have realised in this direction all that we expected of them, when they wore instituted. They provide a congenial companionship for young women, and lessons are inculcated which cannot fail to be of advantage to them mentally and morally. They are thrifty in the management of their business affairs, and show a spirit of self-reliance and independence that puts to sham© many male lodges. The weak point is the secretarial work, and in this direction, although there are some good secretaries, there is still great room for improvement. The juvenile lodges do not -crease in number of lodges or m membership, ' but are getting a considerable amount of attention from the adult lodges. When brought more into touch with the central tody, as they will be after this session, they will be more under the control of the executive than they are at present. They are fulfilling a very useful function in acting as feeders to the adult lodges. Consiiodation has gone an satisfactorily and without friction, three lodges only remaining to consolidate. A final word might now b© said regarding this. It has fulfilled all the arguments of its supporters; (1) The aver-

age interest earnings of the society have increased. (2) It- has tended to increase the

solidarity of the order, and instead of any diminution of interest having resulted, at no period lias greater activity been shown than during the last four years. (3) The clearance difficulty, which at one time appeared insurmountable, has been removed, and old members have resumed relations with the order who had for years been beyond its pale. (4) The sickness experience will require to be carefully watohcd, bub a comparison of the sickness experience of tire 1.0.0. F. with that of other societies shows by the registrar's last report that we stand second in the list in regard to aver-

age sickness experience. It will bo noticed that for the first time in our history, as far as I am aware (and my official cc.nnection with it extends as far back as 1875), a defalcation has occurred, which necessitated a claim being made on the F.S. Guarantee Association. The claim was resisted on the ground that under the association’s rule (3) timely .notification of the appointment was net made. The executive is of opinion that the rule is too drastic, and it is a matter for serious consideration if it is not made more elastic whether the 1.0.0. F. should not establish a fund guaranteeing its own financial officers. As some secretaries are constituted, a lapse such as occasioned the present loss might happen at any time. , ‘ “ A word of commendation should be given to Bro. A. Leigh Hunt, the parliamentary

effort® in endeavouring to get clause 15 reinstated' in an amending bill to the Friendly Societies Act, the clause making it imperative that all societies should submit scales of dues certified by an actuary to be adequate for the benefits promised, to apply to all now entrants and all new lodges. Although avowedly aware of the necessity for such an amendment, and although a distinct promise was made by the Minister of Railways that be. reinstated, no attempt was made at last session to give effect to it. This impoi - ta.nt matter should n-ot bo overlooked, and the most strenuous efforts should be made to impress upon Parliaipent its urgent necessity. Although not part of the business of'my office, it is pleasing to record that the Encampment Branch of the order is not only holding its own. but increasing its branches and doing excellent work.” The report was adopted. GENERAL.

The balance sheet showed that the order now controls a total fund of i '63,037 9s Id, of which the consolidated sick fund represents £56,015 15s lOd. There are three lodges still to consolidate. The funeral fund has a balance of £23,666 11s Id. The juvenile constitution was amended in regard to seven of its clauses. A motion that the juvenile sick and funeral funds be consolidated with the general fund was left over for consideration in the meantime by the executive. A motion that the funeral allowance be increased to £4O was defeated, and a resolution was carried that funeral benefits on a graduated scale be extended up to £IOO. A motion to extend the 20s sick benefit to 12 months instead of six months, and the 10s benefit to 12 months instead of six months, was defeated. Officers were elected for the ensuing two years as follows: —GAT., Bro. 11. C. Gray (Auckland); D.G.M., Bro. A. H. A 7 alentime (Dunedin); G.W., Bro. William Hunter (Christchurch); G.S., Bro, William Reid (Dunedin); G.T., Bro. J. S. Alexander (Dunedin). ' Bros. R. C. Gray and J. S. Alexander were elected representatives to the Grand Lodge of Australasia, which meets next month. Bro. W. Reid will attend the meeting as Grand Sire. A resolution was carried that a remit be sent to the Grand, Lodge of Australasia to endeavour to bring into operation a surrender value on clearances to apply to the whole of Australasia,