ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 5

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

MANCHESTER UNITY. ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING. (Fboh Otjr Special RF.rouTER.) SECOND DAY. ROXBURGH, March 23. The annual meeting of the M.U.1.0.0.F., Otago district, was resumed at 9.30 a.m. to-day, and was presided over by the Prov. G. M., Bro. A. R. Lawry. It wa., resolved that the next purple lecture and past officer degree meeting bo held in the Dunedin District Chambers, and that, tho hour and date be left to the District Executive. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The committeo appointed to devise a means for perpetuating tho memory of tho late Brother P.P.G.M. A. Sligo reported: "Tho committee has given this matter some consideration and cannot up to the present recommend any specifio scheme applicable to accord with 'he importance of our late brother's memory. The committeo would respectfully suggest that the sum of £SO annually be set aside to a fund to be known as the 'Sligo Memorial Fund,' to be a nucleus f< r such benefit, object, or purpose as this or future District meeting may determine."—Bro. Sullivan moved that the recommendation be given effect to.—Bro. Black seconded.— Bro. Knight pointed out that there was no limit to the number of years that the £SO was to be set aside, and moved as an amendment that the sum named be set. aside for of period of 10 years. —Bro. Rodger seconded the amendment.— The recommendation of the committee was adopted, with the addition of tho term of years mentioned in the amendmnt. Bro. Rodger moved and Bro. Taylor seconded the adoption of the report as to tho transfer of money to special fund, as follows : —" Your executive lias gone carefully into the matter, ami while considering' the matter a good one if the funds of the lodge are carefully invested, cannot suggest the sanctioning of such a transfer where the interest on the sick and funeral fund does not average 5 per cent. This is all the more neoessary as the new District Benefit Fund Rule practically amounts to a joint and several guarantee on the part of lodges in the district, and it behoves all lodges under the circumstances to see that the sick and funeral fund is fully invested at remunerative rates." —Bro. Black moved and Bro. Knight seconded, that the words after the word " transfer," in the first sentence of the report, to the end of the sentence be deleted. —The motion was carried, and the report adopted in its amended form. * Reports of the lodge book examiner (Bro. W. E. C. Reid) on the books of two lodges were adopted, and a hearty vote of appreciation of Bro. R-eid's services was passed. MOTION'S Bro. Rodger moved the following motion from the Hand and Heart Lodge : —"That it is advisable that a paid organiser and instructor be appointed to visit the lodges in the Otago district, to examine the workings of the lodges, to instruct officers in their respective duties, to sec that the rules relating to sick brethren are strictly adhered to, that sick brethren are regularly visited, and that the funds of the various lodges are properly safeguarded; the appointment of such officer to be in the hands of the District Executive."- Bro. Fleming seconded the motion. —Bro Sullivan opposed tho motion, contending that tho expense would not be compensated for by the advantage a gained They could not get a qualified man under £2OO a year, and ponses.—Bro. Brown opposed the motion they would have to pay his travelling exon similar grounds. It was a question of pounds, shillings, and pence, and sentiment must, not enter into it.—Bro. Moore suggested that it might be an instruction that some of the executive attend lodges at stated periods. That would mean some expense, but would not cost as much as a paid organiser. He was not prepared to suggest the motion, but thought a report might be obtained as to cost before tho matter was enirely disposed of.—Bros. Black and Johnston opposed tho motion, tho latter saying that the distriot officers when they travelled round were quite capable of doing tho work that a paid organiser would do A paid organiser would come to 2|d a member.—The motion was lost. A motion from the Alexandra Lodge was next considered, and ran as follows: " It beimr advisable that a scheme should be formulated and adopted as an incentive to materially strengthen the memberahin. we beg to submit tho following notices of

motion : —'(1) That the District Executive be empowered to secure a suitable shield to bo competed for annually, and to be held by the lodge making the highest percentage of new members during the preceding 12 months, the name of the winning lodge to be engraved thereon; (2) that a copy be given annually to the member introducing the largest number of members during the year; (3) that on a brother having introduced a certain number of members a suitable jewel be procured and presented to him in rcognition of his services.' *ne first clause of the motion was moved by Bro. Wylie, and seconded by Bro. Middle-mass.—-Bro. Stabb moved, and Bro. Read seconded, as an amendment —" That in framing their new scheme for competition, as instructed by the half-yearly meeting at Middlemarch, the Distriot Executive take into consideration the embodying of any clauses it might consider advisable."—The amendment was carried with few dissentients. —Bro. Sullivan moved) a. further amendment, and Bro. Brogg seconded—- " That a brother having inbrod-uoed a certain number of members, say, 25, a suitable jewel be prooured and presented to the said brother in recognition of his services." — The further amendment was carried', and was then put as a substantive motion, and carried by a substantial majority. —This, it was understood, completely disposed of the whole of he motion from the Alexandra Lodge. Bro. Brogg moved, and Bro. Clarko seconded—' - That the name of P.P.G.M. Bro. A. R. Lawry bo placed on the merit board, that he receive a certificate to enable 'turn to take the degree of P.P.G.M,, and that he receive a P.P.G.M.'s jewel."—The motion, which emanated from the Caversham Lodge, was cai-ried amidst applause, and was acknowledged by the Pro. G.M.

DISTRICT FUNERAL FUND. [ On the meeting resuming in the afternoon. Bio. Naumann moved the resolution from the Dunedin Lodge, which was as follows: —"That the following alterations ot district rule 31 be made at the next meeting of the District Committee: (a) That tha title of district rule 31 be altered to district funeral fund; that clause 1 ot district rule 31 be, and the same is hereby, rescinded, and the following clause sub- , stituted tiherefor: (1) There shall be estab- j lished a fund to be called the district ; funeral fund, towards which every lodge in the district shall contribute in proportion. ; to the number of ite subscribing members according to the last return sheet and the average age of such members, as at 31st December in each year. From the funeral fund shall be paid the funeral benefits ot lodge and district members and their wives, : sick benefits to district members, and the levies to the unity sick and funeral fund; (c) that clause 2 of district rule 31 be, and the same is hereby, rescinded ; (d) that the following new clauses be added to district rule 49 —(1) The District Executive may from time to time, at its discretion, assist any lodge which, in its opinion, requires assistance to enable it to meet the claims of the members of the lodgo who are en- | titled to sick benefits, provided that the lodge shall in such case pay full sick bonofits according to the scale set out in these rules to every member entitle*! thereto. I All moneys voted by the District Executive to assist lodges under the rule shall be paid out of the district funeral fund, provided that the power to assist lodges hereby vested in the District Executive shall cease to be exercisable when the total amount expended in assisting lodges as afore- I said shall equal £2067, together with in- ' terest earned by that sum from the Ist day of June, 1910. (2) In every annual report to the District Committee the District Execu- i tivo shall give a full statement of all moneys granted to lodges under this rule, and of the net balance of the said sum cf £2067 and interest then remaining available." Speaking to the motion, Bio. Naumann stated shortly the position before the district, rule 1910. which was that the individuality ot 31 had been amended at Kaitangata in lodges was intact and not disturbed, and a fund for the purpose of assisting deficiency lodges existed. The latter had been estab- ' lished by resolution at Cromwell in March, 1908. whereby the funds accruing from the | dissolution of Lake Wakatipii Lodge were , to be used for such purpose. The amended rule carried at Kaitangata rescinded all ' previous resolutions ts to the disposal of , the Lake Wakalipu Lodge fun<*s, and directed that they should be placed to the I credit of the district benefit fund, which had ' been established by carrying the amendment. The amended rule also provided that the fund should be maintained by levies in all lodges, and set out the procedure to be followed by lodges desiring relief for their mombers. One object of the amendment was to have the Lake Walcatipu funds, amouniinar to £2067. placed to the credit of suoh benefit fund, so that it oould bo .

taken into account in future valuations oi the district. Ifc had been pointed out that, in. the event of levies being made subsequently, such levies would be very small, and would hardly be felt by lodges. It was safe to say that the majority at the Kaitangata meeting were quite satisfied that the objects sought were t-hus satisfactorily attained. The actual effect had been that by their own act they had altered the constitution, and the Valuer, in his report for 1909, had interpreted the position an practically amounting to a joint and several guarantee on the .part of lodges. This had never been anticipated, nor was it, he (the speaker) believed, the desire of the mover of the amendment, or the intention of the meeting. That would be freely admitted. That being so, it must be recognised that it was prejudicial to the surplus lodges, which showed an average surplus of £8 per member, which was by the amendment reduced to a deficiency of 8d per member, and affected 1369 members, or nearly a third of the whole district. He thought this clearly demonstrated that the effect of the amendment as interpreted by the Valuer was distinctly inequitable and unjust. The object of the present proposed amendment was to restore the individuality of lodges by reverting to the original iuneral fund rule. Bro Trewern seconded the motion. Bro. James Brown, in the course of his remarks, pointed out the advantages of Rule 31 as altered at Kaitangata. They were bringing about practically a joint and several (i'l-arantee on the part of ledges. Surpluses were held in trust against, the contingency of default of deficiency lodges. The position became virtually a financial consideration, therefore, every ledge was of equal financial strength, and the payments of full benefits was guaranteed in all lodsros, so that default in payment ot constitutional benefits could never take place, and there was provided a reserve in justice to those lodges that had suffered loss in oonftequence of the irregularity of the funeral levy during past years. Ho then went on to point out the disadvantages. It was pretty clear that the amended rule was not one that could prove wholly satisfactory. It had to be admitted that it had been somewhat hastily conceived, as it did not fall in with other machinery rules of the district, and in some cases was at complete variance with them, and threw them out of joint. As to any doubt about registration, if the resolution was passed they would be left in their present position, which, after all, was not a serious one, but they would have declared their attitude and shown their leanings, which would be of material help in formulating the nature of any scheme which might follow a refusal to register. lie went on to point out that the Actuary held the hope that the valuation would 1 show great improvement, and no harm could come of waiting until then. He moved that the following be added at the end of clause 1: —"Terminating June, 1910, should this sum of £2067 be augmented at any time by special grants by surplus lodges, the amount of such giants and interest thereon shall also be vested in the district executive for the purpose of assisting lodges m manner herein set out." Bro. Hamel said he had arrived at a conclusion on very similar materials as those used by Bro. Brown, but his conclusion was in a contrary direction. The Kaitangata effect was the outcome of arguments brought before tho district somewhat frequently to enable many lodges to nay full sick benefits to certain members of certain lodges. He urged them to think well before they disturbed the principle of consolidation. They would have to go all over tho ground again if they did, because consolidation must come. It seemed to him that in having accomplished so much, even by accident, the fates had been very kind to them by guiding them to a solution of one of tho most difficult problems they had had to face. He was a member of a surplus lodge, but even if he stood alone ho J would appeal to that lodge not to touch i any of that surplus until the whole of the I Otago district was in ati absolutely sound financial position. j Bro. Turnbull moved as an amendment— | " That a committee bo set up to carefully consider the amendments that have lx?en I made in District Rule 31, and to report to I next district meeting as to what amend- j ments are necessary to put the same on a proper footing, and that the report bo . placed on the business paper, so as to allow the lodges to consider it and place their delegates in a position to vote and speak on the same." Bro. Vincent seconded the amendment. Bro. Biack said he was dead against any retrograde stop, and he asked the brethren to remember that the present members of ] surplus lodges had not made the surplus, ! nor the present members of deficiency j

lodges the deficiencies. Bro. Knight spoke in support of the motion. Bro. Hopcraft said he would be sorry if delegates did not use their power to remove from their books such a regulation as had been passed at Kaitangata. After further discussion Bro. Naumann replied The Pro. G.M. said that if they carried the motion they were going to undo the Kaitangata resolution, and they had to satisfy themselves that the resolution was not a step in the right direction. The actuary said the effiect of the amendment was that they backed up the Kaitangata resolution in this way, that they left it where it was, and they w.ero going to give proper effect to the resolution by having machinery clauses in their rules. The amendment was lost on the voices. Bro. Black moved, and Bro. Knight seconded —" That the committee recommends that P.P.G.M. Bro. Calvert be instructed to draw up such amendment to District Rule 31 as would relieve surp'un lodges without taking away the present advantages afforded to those lodges to i>ay the full benefits, the said alterations in rules to be submitted to the next district meeting." The amendment was lost. The motion was also lost by 43 votes to 19, and the next business was proceeded with. QUINQUENNIAL VALUATION'. The opinion in connection with the quenquinnial valuation was presented, and had attached to it the following resolution, which was arrived at by the committee:—"That, in view of the legal opinion submitted, your committee recommends that a financial scheme be framed by which the surplus of lodges may be liberated at an early date, and that a committee be set up to" frame rules necessary to give effect to this recommendation and report to the next district meeting " Bro. Brundell moved, and Bro. Trewern seconded —" That the iccommendation contained in the resolution be approved.' Bro. James Brown moved as an amendment—" That, having approved and adopted the valuer's report on the last valuation, and in view of the stron,;j hopes held out by the valuer that the next valuation will disclose greatly improved results, this meeting is of opinion that n 0 further action be considered until receipt of his report on the next valuation." | Bro. Rodger seconded the amendment. Bro. Hopcraft pointed out that the quin- ! quennia! report had never been odonted, and the Prov. G.M. ruled that tho amendment was out of order. The motion was then carried, arid tho report adopted. GENERAL. On tho position of the Loyal Vincent Lodge, as reported on in tho District Officers' Report, coming up, Bro. Black moved. " That the District Executive be requested to confer with the Vincent Lodge re adequate contributions with power to act with a view to registration on the lodge."—Bro. Cable seconded the motion, which was carried. In connection with levies for funeral fund. Bro. .Jas. Brown moved, and Bro. Black ■ seconded " That this meeting of tin- District Committee now recognises that the present system of levying for funeral liability has been found to be inequitable in its incidence, and is of the opinion that ' immediate steps should be taken in the direction of establishing the levy system | on a sound actuarial basis, and instructs the District Executive accordingly; further, that when the District Executive is prepared to reonnnend an improved method it shall acquaint lodges with its puriK>se, end at next meeting of the District Committee submit a resolution embodying the proi>osa!, when, if approved, the new system will become immediately operative.—The motion was carried. Tho following remit from the Alexandra Lodge next occupied the attention of the meeting. "With a view to uniformity in bookkeeping, it be a suggestion to lodges to once a year send their permanent secretary as a delegate to a district meeting, so "that a lodge of instruction might bo set up. The Prov. C.S., the Lodge Book Examiner, or another qualified officer, could : impart practical knowledge in uniform book I keeping."—Bro. Black moved, and Bro. I Jas. Brown seconded, and it was resolved] " That with a view to uniformity of bookkeeping the mectinjr instructs the District Execuive to set up at each half-yearly district meeting a lodge of instruction,' consisting of tho Prov. C.S.. the Lodge Book Examiner, or other qualified officer, for the purpose of imparting knowledge in uniform bookkeeping to secretaries of lodges, and that nil lodges be advised of said facility, and bo asked to (rive their practical sympathy by as far as possible sending their permanent secretaries as one of j their delegates to tho half yearly meeting." I Tho levies for the half-year were struck .

as follows:—Funeral levy, 2s 6d per member ; incidental levy, Is 3d per member. It was resolved that the next district meeting be held at Balclutba. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following were elected officers: —Prov. G.M., Bro. W. G. Cole; Prov. D.G.M.. Bro. Q. A. Coughlan; Prov. C.S., Bro. J. A. Hopcraft; Prov. Treasurer. Bro. J. H. F. Hamel; auditor, Bro. C. Grater; lodtf* book examiner, Bro. W. E. C. Reid; Abitration Committee—Bros. Bruhdell, Briggs, Broadfoot. C. J Wood. A. W. Palmer, Lyons, P. Thomson, Slabb, Taylor, Washer, M'Douall, and J. A. Brown; committee in connection with the quinquennial repoi*-—■ Bros. D. 8. Munro. W. E. C. Reid, R. a. Black, C. Grater, Naumann, Blundell. Stabb end J. Brown. BANQUET AND PRESENTATIONS. In the evening" the brethren were entertained at a banquet, at the conclusion of which a toast list, such as is usual lv me» with at similar functions, was honoured. On Friday evening-, during a lull in tho dancing. Prov. G.M. Bro. La wry presented the Loyal Roxburgh Lodge, as winners of the competition, with an enlarged illuminated photo; Bro. H G. Cole presented to Bio. T. Michelle a gold medal as being th» then G.M. of tho winning lodge; P. G. Bro. Laloli presented to P.G. Bro. T. Waight, for introducing most members in the latter half of last year, a gold modal, and Bro. Waight presented to P.G. Bro. Woodhousi a photo frame for meritorious Prov. G.M. Bio. Lawry presented to G.M. Bio. Myers an inscribed sovereign case for introducing most members into the order in Otago during the progress of the oompetttions.