ODDFELLOWS' CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12109, 31 March 1910, Page 2

ODDFELLOWS' CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Assoqiation.) NAPII3BI, last night. • The meeting pi the Biennial Movable Committee of the New Zealand Branch of the Manchester Unity ■Order of Oddfellows was continued to-day. It was resolved that the coming into operation of the central funeral fund bo left m the hands' of the ' Grandmaster and Board of Directors, and that they have power to alter or add to any rules as may be suggested by the Registrar. It was also resolved, "that the Manchester Unity of the Independent Ord.er of -Oddfellows de-aii-es to place on rdfeord 1 an expression of its extreme regret and disappointment at the deleting of clauses 15 and 16 of the Friendly Societies Consolidation Bill, 1S08 ; thai it trusts the- Government will, m Tesponse to the request of a very 'largely preponderating majority of the" friendly societies of tho Dominion, take an early opportunity of introducing an amendment of the Friendly Societies Aft by incorporating tke fcjjuifacinles 15 and. 16- as "ohing emi nen tly^liSprablo, m order to promote tJie msefulness and stability i>f the friendly societies, and to prevent organisations S^hich are making no pretensions to financial solvency from undertaking! obligations which actual experience has amply demonstrated cannot but prove disastrous to' their membership, and consequently injurious to .friendly societies generally." It was decided that the scheme for increased funeral besnelit, with the table of contributions to ba supplied to the Grandmaster and Board of Directors by the Registrar of Friendly ■Societies, be approved. A remit from the Wellington District I w.qs moved as follows : "That this meetling as favorable to the - establishment of j a central' sick fund, and.' recommends the I Grandmaster and Board of Director* to bring forward a scheme for establishing such, a fund m connection with the New Zealand branch." As an amendment it was moved "that it be a recommendation to the Grandmaster and Board of Directors to 1 have a. report made by an actuary oh the question 6f I spreading the liability for sickness, so that each lodge shall pay on .the--aver-acfo exnerience of sickness m tho New j Zealand branch, as aiscertained by a quinquennial valuation, a proportion of t.h« sickness claims which Tiave been imid by lodges, N if J>elow such averages; tr> be collected from or distributed to sucli lodges by the New Zealand branch while having the sick funds' m tho control of the respective -lodges. 1 ' The ainendtnent' Ava.s named unanimously. ■ ..., Attention was draM'n to sub-section 9 of section. 3 of the Consolidated Friendly Societies Act, which provides that, when any money is invested on mortgage or other security oyor land, Uip amount so invested shall not, exceed-thren-fifths of the 1 unimproved value of tli« land, togßther with one-lialf of the value of the improvements thereon, ;ind it was r-esplyed ''tliat a protest be entnved against the clause as interfering vith the investment of.lodgfl funds, and that at, least two-thirds. <»£. the value of frcohold woperty -be ltlift basis of investment." ■[ '. .'lt was resolyod ."tliJit the. attention of the Grandmaster- *and Board of Directors bo drawn to. the proposals of the Government re a' Rational Sick- and Accident Insurance. Bill, and that tlwjv he .usked to take sueijl, ,!aeti/M>, «ithei-. jointly with ot.helv,|Hp^l,y' : ''. S {Hii'eties' of .independently as : .tiief.^rd may decide." It was decided, lo Request several districts to suitably celebrate the centenary of the order. The election of officers resulted as follows: Grandmaster, Bro. C. E. Bellringer (New Tlymouth) ; Deputy Grand- | master, Brp. Jno:' ; Clark (Auckdand) ; corresponding seoreta.l7. Bro. Kershaw fre-elected) ; treasurer, Bro. G. E. Godber (re-elected),; ( Auditor, Bro. T. S. Powell (re-telected); directors, Bras. F. A.-Moorej A. ,N. Butchelor, J. B. FioWw, D. P. Loasbyi G. W. Sellars, John Smith ; Pflrhameiitaiy agent, Bro. Kershaw. .-..,.-••■ An invitation from Ashley district to hold the next bronniel ' meeting m Christchurch was accepted. The next meeting was fixed to be held on tester Monday (April Bth), 1912.' The meeting has concluded