M.U.I.O.O.F.

Otago Witness, Issue 3499, 5 April 1921, Page 6

M.U.1.0.0.F.

OTAGO DISTRICT. The annual meeting of the District Commute of tiie M. U.1.0.0.F. was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, on March 26; present—Prov. G.M. C. 11. Russell (president), Prov. D.C.M. T. Middlemass, ITov. C.S. J. A. Hoperaft, Prov. Treas. J. H. F- Hamel, P.P.G.M. \\ - Fleming; delegates: Hand and Heart Lodge—P.P.G.M.’s A. Sligo, P. Miller, G.M. J. 11. G. Clarke, P.G.’s C. Grater, W. J. M'Curdy, W. H. Rosevear, B. 11. Rosevear, H. G. West; Dunedin—-P.P.G.M. A. M'Dougall, P.G.’s J. Knox, G. Crosbie, C. 11. West A. J. Guild, Elec. Sec. J. V. Riach, jun. ; Dalton — N.G. Keenan, P.G. R. W. Culbert; Albion —P.P.G.M.’s W. Sullivan, G. A. Coughlan, Per. P. W. Stabb, P.G.’s S. Smith, W. G. Stewart, C. L. Anderson; Tuapeka Pioneer, Per. Sec. J. Russell; Naseb.y— P.G.’s P. Thomson, S. Kirby: Alexandra— Per. See. A. M. Wylie, G.M.'W. A. Aitkenhead, V.G. J. R. Tapp; Tapanui—N.G. J. Sim, P. G. E. M‘Coli; Palmerston—Per. Sec. W. Pittaway, P.P.G.M. A. W. Palmer. P.G, W. J. Hutton; Cromwell —P.G.’s R. Olds, J. F. Ray ; Mount Wendon, P.P.G.M. R. S. Black; Outram —G.M. W. A. Barclay, V C. A. M'Cammon • Mosgiel—Per. Sec. W. Weir, P.P.G.M'. W. Smellie; Caversham—V.G. A. G. Rennie, P.G.’s J. Russell, F. J. M‘Kenzie, C. Gilliand, J. Will; Valley—N.G. P. W. Jones. P.G.’s T. Henderson, J. A. Robson; Pride of Kaitangata—N.G. W. G. Wilson, Per. Sec. E. MT’adyen, Elec. Sec. C. Durham, V.G. A.

w. mSSTfeßojTS'a' Mg!;. gjy* r.rc.„. W E. of®. Kj W to ’ P-G. T. S Finder; Centenary, V.G ™ orn Pf° n ; p- S W. Raffills (Hand and Heart) acted as Tyler. The Prov. G.M. delivered his address, in the course of which he said that the accumulated funds of the district now stand at £210,720, the value of lodge funds ping £209,362, an increase of £8297 on the figures of the previous year. The ever-in creasing growth of income from investments is clearly demonstrated in that for the year 1910 it was £5775. During the period intervening it has crept up steadily reaching the sum of £9619 for the year ended December 31 last. The death claims are the lowest since 1914. The effect upon mortality due to the war began in 1915, and increased each year until 1918. lhe experience- of the last two years, however, goes to show that tiie effect is now almost non est. The sickness experience is the heaviest on record ibis was not altogether unexpected it being the natural sequence of the war and the influenza epidemic. The Government grant for after-chsoharge sickness of sofdier members ea§es the strain somewhat but we cannot expect any amelioration of our sickness experience for a considerable period the financial statement of the Manchester fimty as a whole for the year ending December 31, 1919, shows an increase in capitat of £412,879, the accumulated funds of U irl & £18,385,870, the sum of £1,374 367 having been paid in sick and funeral benefits alone during the year Our order in New Zealand at the 'end ot the 1919 period numbered 21611 out of a total of 70,598 friendly society members in the whole dominion. The estimated strength of all societies within the confines of the Otago district was 13,461, or which number the ALL. claimed 4863. It had been its aim since the cessation of hostilities to again bring its numerical strength in this district up to the 5000 mark, and they had succeeded. Ths figure had been passed on two prexfious occasions—sos2 in 1912, and 5085 in 1913. Heavy secessions in 1914 caused a decrease of 99. Then followed four years of war, whereby our membership steadily decreased, the total decrease for the period 1914-1918 being 417 members. The returns for 1920 are particularly gratifying. With an increase of 266 for the year the numerical strength is now 5128—the highest point reached in the history of the Otago district. Good as the progress had been in this particular during the last two years, we have only a little more than made up the leeway caused by the war. Our district has been considerably enriched during the year bv the addition of two juvenile branches. The Loyal Taieri opened at Mosgiel on June 15, 1920, with 27 members, and the Loyal Toko opened at Milton on November 19, 1920, with 46 members. the balance sheet and auditor’s report were adopted, Bro. Grater (auditor) again The following officers were elected and installed: —Prov. G.M., T. Middlemass; Prov D.G.M., J. Will; Prov. C.S., J. E. Hopcraft (re-elected); Prov. Treas., A. Sligo; auditor, James Brown; lodge book examiners, W. E. C. Reid and J. G. Patterson; Arbitration Committee —P.P.G.M.’s A.M'Dougall (Dunedin), G. A. Coughlan, R,] S Black (Albion), W. Fleming (Hand and Heart), W. Sullivan, Per. Sec. P. W. Stabb (Albion), P.G.’s W. D. Campbell (Prince of Wales), W. J. Hutton (Valley), G. Crosbie (Dunedin), F. J. M'Kenzie (Caversham), and P. Thomson (Hand and Heart), W. Weir (Mosgiel); Competitions Committee—District Executive, with P.P.G.M.’s Palmer, Coughlan, and Sullivan. A smoke concert was held in the evening, when Prov. G.M. Middlemass presided. P.P.G.M. Russell was presented with a P.P.G.M.’s jewel, suitably inscribed, and the evening was devoted to speeches, recitations, song and story.